Sébastien Pocognoli: "The fundamentals have to be present in every match." | OneFootball

Disappointed by AS Monaco's unrewarded dominance on the pitch against Le Havre, the Monaco coach spoke at a press conference after the 0-0 draw.

They failed to find a way through. Despite several scoring opportunities, the AS Monaco players were unable to score against Le Havre’s low block (0-0). Speaking at a press conference after the match, Sébastien Pocognoli attempted to analyze the scenario of this 19th matchday of Ligue 1 McDonald’s. 🎙️

Good evening, coach. What is your analysis of this result?

Considering the current situation, I think we saw some fundamental strengths on display, such as the team’s mentality. We had a team that wanted to fight, not just for 20 minutes but for the full 90, and they pushed to get a result. We kept a clean sheet, so that’s reassuring in that respect, and it’s a positive.

Unfortunately, we weren’t present enough in the opponent’s penalty area, which is a little disappointing because there were some situations where we could have been more clinical, but I’m focusing on the positives. For now, we need to take comfort in this performance, and the right mentality was definitely there. The players fought hard, and with that, we can build for the upcoming matches, which will be coming thick and fast.

Do you think this is a good result?

We are AS Monaco, so we should be aiming for more, but I’m also quite realistic about the current situation. The team also needed stability, to reinforce the fundamentals: team spirit, fighting for every ball, defending. These are things that need to be present in every match, and that wasn’t always the case in the last two or three games. There’s good discipline in training, but we need to translate that onto the pitch. What I take away from this is that we lacked a bit of quality in the opponent’s penalty area. That will be the next step, but it will come back with confidence!

How will you prepare for this match against Juventus?

The foundations were positive today, with a good mindset, a team that didn’t give up, and that pushed until the very end. What was said in the locker room was therefore positive, but we can do better. In any case, we must remain united for the time being. That was the watchword, and it was confirmed by my own feelings, and it’s important that the players feel the same way. We must use this to approach the match against Juventus with the best possible mindset. This will only be achievable with the right ingredients.

I’ve been in football long enough to know that results dictate a lot of things, but the performance was positive, and so was the team’s attitude. I’m trying to do my best for the club and the players as well. We also need to continue to encourage the young players because we might need them in the very near future.