The Marseille coach looks back on the 0-2 defeat against Paris on Sunday at the Vélodrome, and the injuries that are piling up.
The defeat against PSG : “A lot of frustration… Everyone talks to me about the fact that we were 11 against 10 (from the 41st minute, Editor’s note). But before, in the first half, we were well in the match, we recovered the ball well despite their offensive talents, we defended well and we had the three or four counter situations that we must control better, on which we must be more effective. Afterwards, at 11 against 10, what’s hard is to be caught on the counter when you put them in their last 30 meters… But the talent, in front… We had to stay much more concentrated. »
Efficiency : “It’s not that we sinned offensively. We had opportunities, Paris has a very great goalkeeper who gives the impression of taking all the goal. Afterwards, when we score a goal… I long to see it again (Jordan Veretout’s goal was disallowed due to an offside position in the 51st minute, Editor’s note). I think it’s debatable… There are two major incidents of play in the second half, starting with the exit of (Chancel) Mbemba in the 50th, which leaves us with another (injured) central defender. Samuel Gigot, who has not played since Montpellier and who was there just in case for the last quarter of an hour, entered. By the time we find the position, we take the goal a minute later. And the second fact of play is the disallowed goal. I can’t wait to see the images… There, it changes the whole match, we equalize, we put them in their 30 meters, we go through the sides… I think we could win it. Hence the fact that there is frustration.
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The international break was terrible.
Jean-Louis Gasset
The state of the troops : “Before the match, I didn’t want to hide behind injuries, but the international break was terrible for us. Jonathan Clauss injured after 10 minutes with the France team. Imaila Sarr who is having fun with Senegal. We had four players who were in the recovery phase. We spent this week “filling” them little by little, we did a test this morning (Sunday) to see if they could start. Gigot had an infiltration in the shoulder to give himself a better chance of finishing the match. (Leonardo) Balerdi, same. All defenders. Clauss, Gigot, Balerdi… If the exams are bad for Mbemba, it will still be a Chinese puzzle for the upcoming deadlines…”
The positive points : “If we stay in the same state of mind… There, I saw players dejected, tired, because they gave everything. The public was not mistaken and encouraged us throughout the match, they saw that we tried. If we have this state of mind, we will have a good end to the season.”
Defense on Kylian Mbappé : “To tell you the truth, I didn’t know if Ulisses Garcia could play again yesterday (Saturday) at 10 p.m…. Same for Balerdi. We did a liveliness test this morning at 11 a.m. (Sunday) so that both players said “ok, I can start”. We have a problem at right-back. Clauss is injured, (Amir) Murillo is recovering. We still had to invent something… He was a right-hander who had to play on the left for Paris, so it wasn’t a crazy move to put a right-hander opposite him…”
Leaving again after the setback against Paris : “We have magnificent matches to play. We will go to Lille on Friday, the team in good shape at the moment. Then, we play the quarter-finals of the Europa League (April 11 and 18 against Benfica, Editor’s note). These are good matches to play, like tonight. Let’s keep this mindset and get some players back.”
Who on the right during Clauss’ absence : “I’m still scratching my head… Ulisses is not qualified for the Europa League. We will find a tactical solution or by moving a player to the side. But first we will wait for the diagnosis for Mbemba. It is important.”
Comments collected at a press conference
