Balogun, Kehrer and Köhn's reactions after Bodø/Glimt | OneFootball

Naturally, everyone was very happy with the victory achieved against Bodø/Glimt (0-1), the only goalscorer of the evening, the captain and the goalkeeper, who made several saves, stopped in the mixed zone.

They needed to play with character and solidarity, and they did so perfectly. Faced with difficult situations (artificial turf, rain and cold in particular), the AS Monaco players withstood it all to win 1-0 in Bodø/Glimt thanks to Folarin Balogun. The forward stopped in the mixed zone, as did Thilo Kehrer and Philipp Köhn, to break down what was a precious win. 🎙️

Good evening Folarin. This is an important victory for AS Monaco tonight…

I agree that we showed a strong team spirit. First of all, when we came onto the pitch for the warm-up and saw the 200 fans who had made the trip, it motivated us enormously. The coach told us he wanted us to stick together. It’s very difficult to get three points here, so I think everyone is happy. It wasn’t always pretty to watch, but the main thing is to stay united, and that’s what we did.

I just remember playing a one-two with Maghnes, and as you said, I found myself at a difficult angle. So I just tried to shoot hard and put it in the top corner. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Today, I'm happy my shot went in, especially since it's a goal that earned the team three points.

Folarin BalogunOn his goal

Can you describe your goal from an unlikely angle?

I just remember playing a one-two with Maghnes, and as you said, I found myself at a difficult angle. So I just tried to shoot hard and put it in the top corner. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Today, I’m happy my shot went in, especially since it’s a goal that earned the team three points. I hope to have a great season, but the most important thing is to stay healthy to achieve that.

Is it difficult to run so much when you’re a striker?

Sometimes, yes, but the most important thing is to help the team. At times, as a striker, I see that the team is struggling. So if I can contribute to creating an advantage to ease the pressure on them, I’m happy to do so because we all need to stick together.

How did you experience this long trip to northern Norway?

When you find yourself in places like this, you learn a lot about yourself and about the team in general. The atmosphere in Norway is really very difficult, with the rain and the cold; these are things we’re not used to. Winning in these conditions makes the victory even sweeter.

Is it a relief to have obtained this first victory?

Against Tottenham, I felt we had to win. After the match, we were a bit disappointed, so it was important to win the next game, and that’s what we did because we knew it was a crucial match given our league position. We won, and I’m happy.

It might not have been the prettiest match, but we had to stick together, work hard, and suffer together. It's a victory of courage; we also showed resilience. I think we can do better in certain aspects with the ball, but we worked hard throughout the entire match. We applied a lot of pressure at times, we were chasing the ball at others, but we maintained a positive mindset.

Thilo KehrerOn the team's spirit

How do you feel under Sébastien Pocognoli?

I feel freer and more responsible now. He’s an exceptional coach; he brings us a lot of ideas, creativity, and freedom. He’s also very demanding. We’re only at the beginning, but I’m certain the future holds many positive things for us. He helps the team push itself and wants us all to stick together, whether we’re playing or not. He truly believes in team spirit. But it’s not just him; there’s also Kevin, who’s important for the forwards because he gives us different options in front of goal. So it’s a very good balance.

The reaction of  Thilo Kehrer

Good evening Thilo. That’s quite a victory you’ve earned…

Indeed, it had to be earned. It might not have been the prettiest match, but we had to stick together, work hard, and suffer together. It’s a victory of courage; we also showed resilience. I think we can do better in certain aspects with the ball, but we worked hard throughout the entire match. We applied a lot of pressure at times, we were chasing the ball at others, but we maintained a positive mindset. We were able to win thanks to all these elements.

What’s it like playing in conditions like these?

It’s different; we’re not used to it. Before the match, we knew these conditions weren’t an excuse; we had to accept them and play with real solidarity. I think we did that perfectly. We had to be ready and mentally strong, while also having a team that works together. That’s the key to success in these difficult circumstances. In any case, we grew even closer during this long trip and while we were at the hotel. We used all of that to connect more with the staff and the players.

You also demonstrated efficiency thanks to Folarin Balogun.

We have complete confidence in our attackers. Whether it’s Balo’, Mika, or George, they have the attacking qualities to make a difference, and they work hard for the team. When we talk about clean sheets, it’s also thanks to them. With the new style of play, we’re playing with more intensity, so it’s more difficult to finish with this physical and mental fatigue. Today, it worked well, and we’re happy.

How does this victory change things in your campaign?

It gives us confidence; it was a hard-fought victory. We didn’t play fantastic football, but we worked hard. It’s a first step forward, but we still need to stay grounded and focus on the positives. (Regarding the upcoming schedule) We’ll take it one game at a time. Several players are returning from injury soon, so there are plenty of positives. Now, we need to remain consistent, even if there are difficult moments.

The reaction of Philipp Köhn

Good evening Philipp. Would you agree that you played your best European match for AS Monaco?

I agree, considering the victory and the clean sheet. We managed to keep another clean sheet after the Tottenham game. It’s a great team success; we fought hard in difficult conditions. So, this clean sheet isn’t solely thanks to me.

How difficult is it to stay fit in these conditions for a goalkeeper?

It wasn’t that cold, but the rain made it harder. We had to keep moving to stay warm. The red card worked in our favor, even though we fought hard until the end to hold onto the result.

It wasn't easy with the bounce because the ball was bouncing around due to the pitch. I tried to keep all my options open, so I'm happy I made that double save. (On the second save) I think all the players thought I stopped it with my face, but it was more with my shoulder. I tried to look as big as possible, and I'm really glad it worked.

I had analyzed it and I knew he often shoots to the open side, so I stayed there as long as possible. It wasn’t easy with the bounce because the ball was flying due to the pitch. I tried to keep all my options open, so I’m happy I made that double save. (On the second save) I think all the players thought I stopped it with my face, but it was more with my shoulder. I tried to look as imposing as possible, and I’m very glad it worked.