Sébastien Pocognoli: “Show a united and collective mindset.” | OneFootball

Two days ahead of the clash against Ligue 1 McDonald’s leaders RC Lens at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis (17:00), the AS Monaco coach spoke about the stakes of the match in the pre-match press conference.

Continue the current momentum. Unbeaten in their last four league matches (2 wins, 2 draws), AS Monaco are eager to maintain this solidity as they travel to face league leaders RC Lens on Saturday afternoon (5:00 p.m.). Ahead of Matchday 23 clash in Ligue 1, coach Sébastien Pocognoli appeared before the media. Excerpts. 🎙️

We’re also trying to give the squad the right workload in training, while taking mental recovery into account as well. It’s about finding the right balance depending on the work that needs to be done in order to prepare for the match. I think the second half of the season will be decided on the mental aspect, so we’re working on that.

He’s going to have two or three important training sessions, especially since he completed a very good full session with the reserves yesterday. If on Sunday he reaches the same level with the players who didn’t feature against Lens, then we’ll have the green light to give him fresh confidence for the second half of the season, and I hope he’ll be able to show how important he can be to the team. Without forgetting the suspensions of the two players (Vanderson and Golovin), which are already confirmed.

The need to rotate?

We try to make the best decisions to be as consistent as possible in the medium term. That’s been the case since I arrived here, in a situation where we had to manage injured players, some of whom suffered relapses, so we have to be mindful of that history. But we also try to maximise the training load, taking mental recovery into account as well. We have to find the right balance depending on the workload involved in preparing for matches. I think the second half of the season will be decided on the mental aspect, so we’re working on that. We have to stay optimistic and positive, because that’s the best way, in my opinion, to build momentum in the best possible way.

Regarding the clash against Lens

We’re taking it one game at a time, because the schedule means we have a tough week ahead in terms of opponents. We’re traveling to face the Ligue 1 leaders on Saturday, who are very strong at home (10 consecutive wins). Then we go to the Champions League title holders on Wednesday. So it’s a great challenge for us, one we’re approaching with optimism, as I said before the first leg against PSG at home. That’s the key word, even though we’re going into this clash with a reduced squad and some uncertainty, but we’ll try to find the best solutions, because we still have some. In any case, we’ll need to show a strong team spirit and solidarity.

The first leg of the Champions League playoff against Paris

There were mixed feelings after the match , because our approach was right and the players did what we wanted. On paper, we were playing against a very strong team, and yet there were regrets about how the match unfolded. So it was a mix of hope, pride, but also disappointment. Then, going back to the locker room, it’s up to us to choose a side, and the coaching staff has to provide that impetus. We decided to address what had disappointed us before moving directly on to what was coming next, because for me, making that mental shift to a positive mindset was crucial.

Yesterday, the starting players had their day off, others played a friendly match with the Elite Group (Jules Stawiecki, Samuel Nibombé, Ilane Touré, Stanis Idumbo, and Paris Brunner), and the substitutes had a very intense individual training session of excellent quality. Normally, it’s a tough session the day after a match for those who haven’t played much, but this one was very good, which shows that the whole group is committed. Today we met up for the first time and laid the groundwork for the next match.

The similarities between Lens and Union Saint-Gilloise

There are indeed many similarities between Lens this year and Union last season, whether in terms of their system, style of play, or player profiles, based on our analysis of RC Lens. There’s also a lot of enthusiasm around the team, especially as they are top of Ligue 1. I don’t know how their campaign will end, but in any case, their fate is in their own hands, and they have the opportunity to achieve something great by the end of the season.

We’ll do everything we can to play our game, show ambition, and also respond to their strengths. I don’t know if their streak will continue, but Saturday’s match will demand a lot of physical consistency from us. In any case, they play with a lot of intensity, partly due to the players’ profiles

Sébastien PocognoliThe type of match against Lens

They’re a team with strong momentum at home, but they also have areas we can exploit. We’ll do everything we can to play our game, show ambition, and also respond to their strengths. I don’t know if their streak will continue, but Saturday’s match will demand a lot of physical consistency from us. In any case, they play with a lot of intensity, partly due to the players’ profiles. As for the title? The team that is the most consistent over the course of the season will come out on top.

On the reverse fixture in the Principality

Lens has many players with a high success rate in high pressing, especially in midfield, even though we are the second-best team in France at this level. So we will try to maintain that, because it’s part of our DNA. In the reverse fixture, we had a coherent first half, but we conceded two easy goals. We also had good passages between the lines with the ball at our feet, creating chances, but we were undone by an unfair red card that completely dashed our hopes of getting back into the game. On the other hand, we were already facing a team that is strong in converting opportunities.

Pressing? It depends on the profiles we have, even though we can maintain a certain philosophy and some principles. We’re missing quite a few players in attack, but we’ll always try to stay consistent with what we aim to do. Against PSG, when we were 2‑0 down, we dropped back a bit, which was unfortunate because I would have liked us to keep pushing, but we eased off a little after the penalty, which I think was a setback. So we need to try to stay consistent depending on the team we can put out.

What type of match against the Sang et Or?

We’re going to play against a very strong team at home, so possession will most likely be on their side. But we always try to be dominant with or without the ball, because we try to be as dominant as possible. Against PSG, we didn’t manage to play as we wanted; at times, we might have been too direct. At Lens, there will probably be more transitions, but we’ll see – it will depend on how both teams play.

Message to the players

I always try to be as ambitious as possible and, above all, consistent with our ambitions, because sometimes, when we’re disconnected from reality, we can lose the confidence of those around us. I’m always in favour of optimism and aiming as high as possible. We need to be consistent, and if we are, we’ll have a chance to qualify for Europe, so my motto is to believe as much as possible. Unfortunately, we have to deal with factors that can affect this ambition, notably the many absences, but if we stay united and think the same way in both good and bad moments, we can try to carve a path in the final stretch to achieve something positive.

This year, the risk factor is much higher, with many different player profiles and system changes forced by the numerous absences, which means we have to make risky decisions.

Regarding recent red cards

This is a question I’ve been asked a lot this year, so I hope I won’t have to answer it anymore. There are different factors that explain it: one is the desire to be aggressive but in the wrong way or not using it wisely. The second is physical, although that was more the case several months ago. Then, if we talk about the one we had against Lens, there were also some decisions that went against us. Regarding the most recent one given to Golo in the league against Nantes, it was out of context. Depending on the referee’s interpretation, some wouldn’t have given it, others would. That said, I agree that there are too many red cards, which makes it very difficult to find a consistent starting XI to build understanding and continuity – something that, for me, is the guiding principle.

I spoke with Golo, as I do with every player after a situation like this. I communicated with him after the game, then we let yesterday pass to discuss it more calmly and with more perspective today. He is aware that it wasn’t good for the team, even though there was no intention to harm the collective, since he had been very important recently in the goals scored in recent matches. That makes it all the more frustrating, because he was decisive in this more central role. This red card was understandable, even if he just wanted to get past the player – it comes down to a split second. But against Nantes, we expect better emotional management from him.

The starting XI against Lens

I think we’ve been consistent in many ways we approach out matches, even though there’s always some self-reflection and an element of risk in the decisions we make. Last year at Union, I took fewer risks, simply because when a player was injured, there was someone with the same profile on the bench. This year, the risk factor is much higher, with many different player profiles, system changes forced by numerous absences, which means we have to make risky decisions. However, in important matches or against top teams, we have always maintained the right approach, except for the game against Real Madrid. For Lens, I need to wait for the medical check-ups for Maghnes and Denis, but the system and tactical setup are already well established in my mind.

I’ve never experienced it as a player or as a coach, so I’m looking forward to discovering this great atmosphere, in a mining region that reminds me of the area I come from in Liège and my family roots. It’s a match I’m eagerly anticipating, and I hope it will be a great evening for our team because if that can be combined with the atmosphere, it will be fantastic.

On the atmosphere at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis

I think their success this year comes from the collective, as there’s a great synergy between the staff, the players, and the fans. The stadium? I’ve never experienced it as a player or as a coach, so I’m looking forward to discovering this great atmosphere, in a mining region that reminds me of the area I come from in Liège and my family roots. It’s a match I’m eagerly anticipating, and I hope it will be a great evening for our team because if that can be combined with the atmosphere, it will be fantastic. One thing is certain: it’s tough for any team to go there.