“After Lille, this time you face a team (Metz) which is fighting to maintain its position. What type of match are you expecting?
A very difficult match. It’s a team that holds the ball much less than Lille, which will undoubtedly be very withdrawn. We will have to see how to attack the depth depending on the spaces they will leave us. We will have to be fine and precise. But these are difficulties that we must succeed in overcoming.
You tried a new organization against Lille (4-3-3 in the defensive phase, 3-2-2-3 with the ball). Did it convince you and can it be repeated against Metz?
I’m not going to tell you what we’re going to do. But I liked what we did in Lille. One of the objectives is to be unpredictable for the opponent, but not for us, without generating doubts. I like players to get out of their comfort zone. It was very positive, not the result because of the last 10 minutes, but otherwise it was good.
You said you think your team will be much stronger in two months. On what points precisely and what makes you think that?
It was a sincere thought on my part, that over the months we continue to progress. I am totally convinced of that. Maybe I’m wrong and if so I will be heavily criticized but whatever. I have been criticized all my life, in the end it delights me. I see my team improving game after game. There is one game left to conclude this year. I would like us to be able to offer a victory to our supporters to enjoy the holidays and come back stronger.
“We are still at the beginning of our journey”
What assessment do you draw from this first part of the season and what are your objectives for the future?
We are still at the beginning of our journey as a staff. This is a new stage for the club, with the large number of players we recruited this summer, the PSG campus. I am more than satisfied with this start to the season, with the results. Having been in such a difficult Champions League group was an advantage, it gave us good feelings. In the Championship, the start hasn’t been perfect but we are first in the standings and that’s the place we want to keep. The hardest part remains to be done, we are only at the beginning. We want to fight for all the titles.
How do you judge your relationship with Kylian Mbappé?
We’re not engaged, but almost – especially because he’s the one who doesn’t want to (smile). I am very close to most of my players; With Kylian we have always been very close, he is someone who makes jokes, who always smiles. I’m delighted with it and not just with Kylian but with everyone, even if I know that the players who play less are a little less happy.
On Wednesday, Mbappé celebrates his 25th birthday. How do you judge what he has accomplished and what do you still expect from him?
25 years old is super young, he’s my son’s age… I hope he will still have lots of success, individual and collective. I hope it will be here at PSG, his level is fantastic. It’s a chance to have a player like him in your team, for what he brings. His stats are impressive.
“(The Real Sociedad players) will pose difficulties for us. (…) It’s a team that plays very good football, which has clear ideas. »
At the moment, the media has mixed opinions on Kang-in Lee’s performances. What is your opinion ?
He’s a player who may be a little unknown to those who don’t follow La Liga. In Korea he’s a superstar, we saw him this summer. He is very important for us, he played right winger, in the middle, false 9; he has top technical abilities, he has defensive qualities and sacrifices himself for the team. He has a lot of predispositions. Plus he’s nice and funny, he really has it all.
PSG will face Real Sociedad in the round of 16 of the Champions League, what is your opinion on this draw?
I am especially happy because I really wanted to return to Spain. We know La Real very well, a lot of players were in the selection with me, we know the coach, the city. That’s very good news. They will pose difficulties for us, because they finished first in their group ahead of Inter, who were finalists last season. It’s a team that plays very good football and has clear ideas. »
