Sébastien Pocognoli: "Show the same attitude as against Juventus" | OneFootball

The Monaco coach spoke at his press conference on the eve of the game against Rennes at the Stade Louis-II (kick-off 21:05), ahead of the 20th matchday of Ligue 1 McDonald’s.

Having qualified for the Champions League playoffs – where they will face Paris-Saint Germain – on Wednesday thanks to a draw with Juventus (0-0), AS Monaco will now look to return to winning ways in Ligue 1. It was with this ambition that coach Sébastien Pocognoli spoke to the media on the eve of Matchday 20 against Rennes (21:05). Excerpts 🎙️

Regarding the players available

Krépin (Diatta) is back in good health and has been training normally these past few days. It’s still a bit early for Christian (Mawissa) as as he hasn’t fully rejoined group training sessions yet. He’s still only partially fit, so it’s just a matter of time before we see him again. All the other injured players are in the process of returning, which includes Wout (Faes), Eric (Dier), Paul (Pogba) and Pape (Cabral). We hope to have them back as soon as possible to strengthen the squad and create competition for places.

I said after the match against Juve that I didn't have a preference. I know Newcastle, having faced them this season in the Champions League with Union Saint-Gilloise. It would have been a nice touch to play them again with AS Monaco to gauge our level against them. As for Paris Saint-Germain, we obviously know the level of this team having already played them in Ligue 1.

The playoff draw

I said after the match against Juventus that I had no preference. I know Newcastle, having played them this season in the Champions League with Union Saint-Gilloise. It would have been a great opportunity to face them again with AS Monaco and gauge our level against them. As for Paris Saint-Germain, we obviously know their level having already played them in Ligue 1 (a 1-0 victory). So, I’m looking forward to this clash, but before that there are plenty of matches where we can build and accumulate as much confidence as possible. Because we know it’s a two-legged tie, anything is possible.

Playing against a French team

We’re going to play a very high-level team that knows the competition well. It’s true that from a neutral point of view, it can be disappointing to see two French clubs facing each other. But personally, I’m very happy to be playing PSG, because we already played a very good match against them at home in the league. We’ll therefore need to raise our level of play even higher, but I repeat; we must first focus on the match tomorrow against Rennes, and then the Coupe de France. We know we put in good performances against big teams, whether in the league or in Europe, so I’m confident that we’ll be ready for these two matches and that we’ll be as ambitious as possible. But the most important thing for me right now is Ligue 1, and showing the same attitude as we did against Juventus.

Regarding the three-man defence

We always try to maintain stability, even though we put in some good performances with a four-man defence against Paris and Marseille, which shows that my analysis of the squad when I arrived was correct. I do believe that when the squad is deep enough, we have the capacity to play in both systems. We’ve also performed very well with a three-man backline. This bodes well for the future, but my main concern is having the necessary depth to be able to rely on both formations.

I think the gameplan was very clear to him. Zak's qualities can work very well in midfield as well as in defence, and the big advantage is that he defends very well while pressing forward because of his speed. He is also good with his feet when the action is happening in front of him, just as when he plays as a number 6 and we're dominating the match.

When everyone is back, it will give me the opportunity to make the best choices, and not just based on injuries and suspensions. So, we’re trying to find stability, but we’ll see tomorrow what’s best for the team, also taking into account our recovery from the Juventus match and the opponent. We always have to consider that, even if our basic principles remain the same.

Regarding the gameplan

I came with my own ideas, the ones I developed at Union Saint-Gilloise, but I had to adapt, and that’s part of being a coach. I know the four-man defensive system well, having used it in the youth ranks, and ultimately, we achieved some very good results in the Champions League, particularly with AS Monaco, whether with a diamond formation like at Auxerre, or with a striker and two number 10s. It’s been quite enriching for me and for the team, and I think it will be beneficial for the future in terms of adaptability. Ultimately, the most important thing is to remain consistent. At Union, the entire team structure was built around this system and was difficult to adjust. It’s also valuable for being tactically flexible.

Denis Zakaria’s performance in defence

I think the gameplan was very clear to him. Zak’s qualities can work very well in midfield as well as in defence, and the big advantage is that he defends very well while pressing forward because of his speed. He is also good with his feet when the action is happening in front of him, just as when he plays as a number 6 and we’re dominating the match. He has the characteristics to be versatile, and in modern football that’s invaluable, even more so when you can switch to a back three or four. In fact, I said when I arrived that the three-man defence allows the players to be versatile to adapt to the system. If Denis feels important and comfortable in this system and in these circumstances, we’ll explore the idea of ​​putting him back in that position in the future. He’s our captain and thinks about the team, so we’ll see depending on the available options.

Back-to-back clean sheets

The common factor in these two matches against Le Havre and Juventus was the players’ mentality, regardless of the system or defensive setup, because it was impeccable during a difficult period in terms of pressure and expectations. This proves that in these circumstances, the team knows how to unite. Tomorrow’s match is extremely important because we need to build on this, certainly with more quality in our attacking play, but we must see the same mindset again, regardless of the opponent, the situation, or the standings. I truly expect impeccable focus in terms of the collective effort.

Regarding Maghnes Akliouche

I think the whole team, both collectively and individually, is experiencing inconsistency, and Maghnes is no exception. Amidst the ups and downs, we’re going through, something important is commitment, attitude, and facing adversity head-on. I often tell the players that this complicated period is an opportunity to learn a great deal for the rest of their careers. Given our lack of efficiency in front of goal, he needs to stand out and find other strengths, even if he’s already trying to do so. Then there’s a less visible aspect: his work for the team. He’s the Ligue 1 player who recovers the most balls in the final third, which means he contributes significantly to the collective effort, something we often overlook, and which can sometimes hinder his creativity. We need to find a happy medium, but I am convinced that if the team gets back to a good level, it will also help him to get back to his best.

Exempting him from defensive duties? We need to be strong as a team, because my principles are based on the collective, so defensive work is essential. That doesn’t mean I don’t have great admiration for creative players. In fact, I was the one who brought Sofiane Boufal to Union Saint-Gilloise. They are crucial in my system, especially as they are becoming increasingly rare in modern football. Maghnes has that creativity, and I don’t want him to lose it. In any case, I’m trying to find the best balance to make his job easier, both in pressing and in tracking back defensively, which remains a very high priority. But I also want him to stay fresh so he can unleash his creativity when we win back possession. Then, when the team is under pressure, we’re in a situation where everyone has to fight.

I've felt their support since the first day I arrived here. Just bringing me here and believing in me mid-season was a powerful gesture, a huge show of confidence, even if I might have earned it through my work in Belgium. I give everything for the Club, and honestly, I can say that the daily work is intense and entirely dedicated to AS Monaco.

In the support from the board

I’ve felt their support since the first day I arrived here. Just bringing me here and believing in me mid-season was a powerful gesture, a huge show of confidence, even if I might have earned it through my work in Belgium. I give everything for the Club, and honestly, I can say that the daily work is intense and entirely dedicated to AS Monaco. There are many things we can improve, there are mentalities we’re gradually changing, but I have the support because I’m doing the necessary work. Of course, results have an impact, because modern football is all about results, but at the moment, I’m being given time, because we’re finding solutions even in the current circumstances. I feel this support from everyone, starting with my players and including our fans. We need to keep moving in the same direction and my players mustn’t give up.

End-of-season objectives

We’re still competing on three fronts (Ligue 1, Champions League, Coupe de France), and it’s important to be ambitious in all three competitions. We’ve qualified for the playoffs in the Champions League, we have a crucial Coupe de France match against Strasbourg, and we urgently need points in the league to climb back up the table. Despite this, we still managed to secure qualification against Juventus with only 13 players called upon, which is remarkable. That’s what finding solutions is all about: relying on teamwork, training, and a strong mentality. If we have a good squad to compete successfully in all three competitions, it will help us string together a series of wins and regain some confidence for the end of the season.

Regarding Stade Rennais

There is a before and after for Rennes from when they first played us, because they’ve enjoyed an upturn. They’re a team that bounced back when things were tough. I remember we created a lot of chances in the first half but didn’t defend well. They have a well-drilled system with quality players, so on paper, it’s going to be a difficult match, and we’ll need to be ready, maintain the same team spirit, and simply be at our best.

We’re in a situation where every match is crucial as we approach the end of the season. At the same time, if we look at things differently, we’re still in contention on three fronts, so we still have a lot of work to do to enjoy a good season. And this weekend, we can move closer to the position that reflect our ambitions, even if it’s going to be a long road back. But this can only be done with a positive mindset and if we do our job well.

On his counterpart Habib Beye

He’s part of this new generation of young coaches like myself. There’s a lot of respect for the role and the career trajectory. He’s had good results lately at Rennes, having managed to come through a difficult period – I experienced that myself last year – and it makes you stronger. When you go through a situation like that, you have to know how to use it to your advantage. In any case, it will be a good match tomorrow against a good team and a club that’s gaining momentum in terms of ambition. Now we have to compete, and we have everything we need to do so.

He is still learning, even though his status is evolving with the increase in responsibility. He is learning to manage this new role, making mistakes but also doing many good things for his age, and that a positive.

He’s a young player, so you need to know what I expect from him, while also recognising that we’re going through a period of pressure. He’s had some good matches, some more difficult ones, and a red card, too. Like the other players, he has a clear plan for the season. He is still learning, even though his status is evolving with the increase in responsibility. He is learning to manage this new role, making mistakes but also doing many good things for his age, and that a positive.

He still needs to keep working, we’ll continue to push him, and we hope he’ll maintain consistent performances until the end of the season. As a young player, he experiences ups and downs, periods of euphoria, and occasional doubts, but that’s normal. He’s an intelligent player with great physical and technical qualities. We’re now working on his passing, his first touch, and the overall consistency to his game.