Vanderson: "It’s up to us prove our quality on the pitch." | OneFootball

The Brazilian full-back spoke to the press ahead of AS Monaco’s home match against FC Nantes at the Stade Louis-II (kick-off 21:05) on Friday to kick off the 22nd round of Ligue 1 McDonald’s.

Return to winning ways immediately. Following the goalless draw in the derby against Nice (0-0), AS Monaco return to league duties with the visit of Nantes on Friday evening at the Stade Louis-II (21:05). It’s a crucial match in the race to close in on the European places, as Vanderson Vanderson discussed with the media. Excerpts.🎙️

His Physical Condition

I feel better now. The start of the season was difficult because I endured three consecutive injuries, unlike last year when I played almost every match. We are entering a crucial period, both for the team and for me, so I have to be even more careful. I’m working with the staff to understand the workload I can handle in order to avoid injuries and to allow me to continue to be on the pitch.

The World Cup in the summer

Of course we’re thinking about the World Cup, but first we need to stay focused on the club, that’s the priority. After that, it’s up to me to perform well and stay healthy, because a national team call-up is the result of the work I do at AS Monaco.

Yesterday’s Team Bonding

We are often together at the hotel during away trips, but it’s different because we’re focused on the upcoming match. Yesterday, the atmosphere was more relaxed, and we could laugh more. We also got to talk about things we don’t usually discuss. It was good for us to be all together – many teams do this. It shows that the group is close and that we are united for the final stretch of the season.

The pressure is always there. We know the situation, and it’s not an easy time. We also know the opponent well - the reverse fixture in Nantes was tough. We faced a low block that played on the counter with pace on the wings. It will be up to us to show on the pitch this Friday, and every weekend, to climb the table and prove that AS Monaco has the quality.

The pressure to get results

The pressure is always there. We know the situation, and it’s not an easy time. We also know the opponent well – the reverse fixture in Nantes was tough. We faced a low block that played on the counter with pace on the wings. It will be up to us to show on the pitch this Friday, and every weekend, to climb the table and prove that AS Monaco has the quality. The whole team needs to perform better overall.

End-of-season goal

Our goal is clear: we want to reach the European spots to compete in Europe next season. We are focused solely on securing European football and will work hard to achieve that goal, to take the club as high as possible. Personally, as I said, I want to stay healthy so I can continue helping the team.

I’ve been here for four years now, and I’ve played in both three and four-man backlines. When we play with three at the back, it allows me to push forward more and get into the opponent’s box, but as the coach told me, my first priority must be to defend, and everything else will follow. I enjoy playing like this because I have more freedom.

Managing his emotions

I think every player wants to win; no one likes to lose. Right now, I probably need to manage my emotions better so as not to impact the team. It’s an area where I need to grow, but I feel much better mentally and have learned a lot since I arrived.

I’ve been here for four years now, and I’ve played in both three and four-man backlines. When we play with three at the back, it allows me to push forward more and get into the opponent’s box, but as the coach told me, my first priority must be to defend, and everything else will follow. I enjoy playing like this because I have more freedom. I’ve definitely learned a lot about tactical awareness since I arrived, especially from a defensive viewport.