Sébastien Pocognoli: "A fine collective effort that gives me great satisfaction." | OneFootball

Delighted to secure a fourth consecutive home victory in the league against Brest (2–0), the Monaco manager shared his analysis following the win—which also came with a clean sheet.

They were once again very solid at the Stade Louis-II! Facing the second most in-form team in Ligue 1, McDonald’s behind them, the AS Monaco players showed seriousness to secure their fourth win in a row in the Principality (2-0), and their fifth in a row in the top flight. It is therefore with a sense of duty fulfilled that Sébastien Pocognoli spoke to the media post-match. 🎙️

Good evening, Coach. A fifth consecutive victory tonight—has the objective been met?

If we look at the momentum of both teams over the last six matchdays, Brest and AS Monaco were among the top-performing sides. On paper, one might have envisioned a slight advantage for us, but the reality of the moment was that we were facing a team in excellent form. Winning this type of match 2-0—while remaining defensively solid, displaying a strong mentality, and being clinical in the decisive moments—brings me a great deal of satisfaction. Over the course of a season, it is precisely these kinds of victories that allow you to improve and keep moving forward.

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Your team conceded very little tonight. Is that another source of satisfaction?

The team worked together very well. Stade Brestois presents a huge physical challenge and puts a lot of strain on the defense, especially on second balls where the midfield is very exposed. They are a different kind of opponent than Paris Saint-Germain, but in terms of their style, they are probably among the best in France. I am therefore very pleased with the way we were able to meet these demands. They also caused us problems in our play with the ball. We had some good moments, but we also had to adapt to their tactical organization.

It was the right moment to bring in some fresh blood, and the players who came on responded very well. In the final ten minutes, having fresh wingbacks on the flanks allowed us to add greater solidity and cut off Brest’s final attacking attempts. It was a true collective effort.

Your substitutions were also rather offensive. Were you looking for a second goal?

Once again the substitutes bring a lot to the table. As for Aladji Bamba, he is a young player who is improving week after week. He was also on a yellow card, so we had to be mindful of that aspect. Around the 60th minute, we sensed a slight dip in physical energy. It was the right moment to bring in some fresh blood, and the players who came off the bench responded magnificently. In the final ten minutes—with fresh legs out wide—we were able to add greater defensive solidity and cut off Brest’s final attacking attempts, ensuring we came away with a clean sheet. It was a fantastic collective effort!

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Does this positive run of form send a message to the other teams—particularly ahead of the trip to Lyon?

It is undoubtedly a positive signal, as we are currently riding a wave of good momentum. However, I always like to remind people that we have come a very long way this season. We make no lofty claims regarding which specific league position we ought to be targeting. We will simply wait and see where we stand in the table after this weekend’s matches. Our sole ambition is to keep this streak going and take stock of the situation at the end of the season. If we maintain this pace, it will obviously be possible to set our sights high; yet our recent past must serve as a reminder to remain humble and to continue working with rigor and a strong team spirit.

Will you be watching Lyon’s away match at Le Havre closely?

They are our next opponent, so it is only logical that we analyze them. We currently have nine more points than we did at this same stage during the first half of the season, so that is a positive indicator. There are also two remaining matches against teams from whom we failed to take a point during the first half of the league season. The players will be highly motivated to set that right and go out there to secure some good results.

It is quite simply the fruit of his labor. He invests a tremendous amount of effort to achieve this level of consistency. His performance level also elevates the other players in the attacking third. Today, he is reaping the rewards of his efforts. He is an ambitious player, highly focused on his objectives.

Folarin Balogun keeps scoring — how can you explain his consistency?

It is quite simply the fruit of his labor. He invests a tremendous amount of effort to achieve this level of consistency. His performance level also elevates the other players in the attacking third. Today, he is reaping the rewards of his efforts. He is an ambitious player, highly focused on his objectives. He knows that he still has plenty of opportunities to shine this season—and even beyond his time at AS Monaco, with his national team. His professionalism is exemplary.

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What I appreciate most about him is his humility and his daily work ethic. Mentally, he has proven to me that he is ready for the top level. He has shown patience—a quality that is becoming a virtue in modern football.

A word on the progress shown by Aladji Bamba ?

We are fortunate to have several different profiles in midfield. Mamadou Coulibaly delivered some very strong performances against Paris Saint-Germain, whereas today we opted for a more offensive profile, such as Aleksandr Golovin. As for Aladji Bamba, I feel he is constantly improving despite his youth. At this age, these can be more challenging matches, but for the moment, he demonstrates great consistency over periods of 60 to 70 minutes; the next step will be to push himself even further physically.

What I appreciate most about him is his humility and his daily work ethic. Mentally, he has proven to me that he is ready for the top level. He has shown patience—a quality that is becoming a virtue in modern football. Even during difficult times, he never gave up. He continued to work to demonstrate that he could turn the situation around, and today, it shows on the pitch.