Embolo, Ilenikhena and Zakaria’s reactions after Saint-Etienne | OneFootball

A few moments after the match, the three Monegasque players stopped in the mixed zone to discuss this first success of the season against Les Verts (1-0).

They had to win to start this Centenary season well, and that’s what they did. At the end of a match where they dominated a lot without managing to put themselves out of reach despite several chances, the Rouge et Blanc won by the smallest of margins against Saint-Etienne thanks to a lob by Takumi Minamino. After the match, Breel Embolo, George Ilenikhena and Denis Zakaria spoke in the mixed zone. 🎙️

In all honesty, we played a great match and I'm happy with the performance of the whole team. We just needed two or three more goals but we didn't concede any. We take the three points, that's the most important thing.

Breel EmboloHis feelings on the match

Good evening Breel. Can we say that it’s a great way to start the season?

Yes, even if I think that as an attacking player, we could have scored two or three more goals. We started the match well by creating chances. Against low blocks, we know that we have to be careful with counterattacks. I think we controlled them well. Saint-Etienne is a team with qualities that showed us things that we had analyzed.

In all honesty, we played a great match and I’m happy with the performance of the whole team. We just needed two or three more goals but we didn’t concede any. We take the three points, that’s the most important thing.

Comment expliques-tu cette inefficacité offensive ce soir ?

Comme je vous l’ai dit, on s’est créé plusieurs occasions, c’est le plus important. On a beaucoup bougé et on avait de la variance offensive. A Barcelone, nous avions mis trois buts, aujourd’hui, c’est un. Au final, c’est important de ne pas prendre de but et de rester concentré.

How did you experience this disallowed goal?

Everyone was worried. We will have to try to kill the next matches so as not to give ourselves any scares. This was offside by a few millimeters, that’s how it is, that’s football. We also had a goal disallowed for this reason earlier in the match. We are used to it now.

There were a lot of attacking moves, as shown by Taki's goal, where one player dropped back, while the other took a deep run. This was also the case with Balo', it's interesting. It's still the first match, we're happy with this result but we know that we can improve in several areas.

Breel EmboloOn Taki's goal

It was a physical and rough match. How did you experience it?

No, it was okay. There were a lot of attacking moves, as shown by Taki’s goal, where one player dropped back, while the other took a deep run. This was also the case with Balo’, it’s interesting. It’s still the first match, we’re happy with this result but we know that we can improve in several areas. We know that we have to be there from the start of the season, so it’s good to start with a victory.

We felt you were very strong physically in the first 60-70 minutes.

It’s nice because I worked a lot during the holidays after the Euro. Everyone knows that I missed many matches last year. Now, I’m enjoying it and trying to help the team during the 90 minutes.

The reaction of George Ilenikhina

I am very happy and I thank the coach for allowing me  to play my first minutes today. When I come on, I try to give my all to help the team by trying to create chances to score. With the victory at the end, it's definitely a good start. I hope we can continue like this.

George IlenikhenaOn making his debut

Good evening George. How do you feel after your first official match with AS Monaco?

I am very happy and I thank the coach for allowing me  to play my first minutes today. When I come on, I try to give my all to help the team by trying to create chances to score. With the victory at the end, it’s definitely a good start. I hope we can continue like this.

How did you emotionally experience all these actions with the VAR?

It was a match with a lot of disallowed goals, it’s true. But that’s football, that’s how it is. We dealt with it, we won so we’re happy. The victory is the most important thing to start the season well. The other big teams in the league also won, so we had to take the three points to stay on the right track. We hope to continue like this.

What is your relationship with Breel Embolo and Folarin Balogun?

I get along very well with Breel and Balo’. They are two very good guys who help me on a daily basis. They advise me and explains to me what they were already doing last season, so that I can acclimatize quickly.

The reaction of Denis Zakaria

It’s an honour and a source of pride. I’m happy to start this new role with a victory. I hope that I can help the team even more in the upcoming matches and contribute my bit to the whole.

Good evening Denis. You seemed to have a knock when you came off. How are you?

It’s nothing special. As I’m coming back from a long-term injury, I haven’t had much playing time in recent weeks. I’ve been playing for two weeks now, my muscles still need to work, that’s why.

How does this first victory of the season taste?

We can see that we still have to work. The victory and the three points were really our goals, it’s done. We would have liked to win 4 or 5-0 but 1-0 is still a win. It was a match with a lot of emotion because of the goals and the penalty that were disallowed. We are happy with these three points.

It’s new. We still have to work and have more connections naturally. In any case, he’s a great youngster and a great player. I can’t wait to continue playing with him in the next matches.

This is the first time this season that you wore the armband. Tell us how you experienced it.

It’s an honour and a source of pride. I’m happy to start this new role with a victory. I hope that I can help the team even more in the upcoming matches and contribute my bit to the whole.