Sébastien Pocognoli: "Showing aggression in the right way" | OneFootball

On the eve of the derby against OGC Nice at the Allianz Riviera (kick-off 15:00), the AS Monaco coach spoke at a press conference to discuss the stakes of this 21st round Ligue 1 McDonald’s clash.

Switching back to league duties. Barely three days after their Coupe de France round-of-16 tie in Strasbourg, the Red and Whites are already rolling up their sleeves again as they head to Nice to contest the 110th top-flight Côte d’Azur derby (Sunday, 15:00). Sébastien Pocognoli face the media on Saturday to discuss this crucial challenge for AS Monaco. Excerpts.🎙️

On the current situation

We haven’t had much time ahead of the derby, so my focus is on preparing for it properly. Of course, there is frustration at every level of the club regarding a season that began in July and will end in May. Everyone is frustrated to varying degrees, depending on the emotions it brings out. As far as I’m concerned, I have one principle: when I commit to a club, I try to support all of its components so that we move forward together on the right path – the players, the management and the supporters.

We’ve been under pressure for a few weeks - that’s the reality. The defeat in Strasbourg knocked us out of a competition in which we wanted to go as far as possible. Now the derby is a new match, and we need to pick up points in the league to get back in touch with the European places.

I try to focus as much as possible on what happens on the pitch, because it’s only through answers on the pitch that we can change this difficult situation. There will certainly be things to change for next season, as there are some things we could have done better, but I think everyone is aware of that and is working on it. We’ll take stock at the end of the campaign, but right now everyone is giving their maximum to turn things around – and that will happen on the pitch. So what better opportunity than a derby to respond and bring something positive for the second half of the season.

Assessing the squad

Against Strasbourg, we had to manage Folarin Balogun, because of the run of matches, so we needed to adjust his playing time as we have limited squad options available. As a precaution, Balo didn’t start, and at the same time we had Mika (Biereth) who was coming off a very strong substitute appearance against Rennes.

So we have to manage some players, like Vanderson for example, because again our squad is very limited this week, so that’s something we need to keep in mind. As for potential returns, Wout (Faes) will train fully with the group for the first time today, so we’ll see if he can help the team. Christian (Mawissa) is not yet ready for team sessions.

Additional pressure ahead of the derby?

We’ve been under pressure for a few weeks – that’s the reality! The defeat in Strasbourg knocked us out of a competition in which we wanted to make a strong showing until the end. We played against a good Strasbourg team and had some lapses, even though there were positive moments, so I can’t say we played a bad match, especially given some incidents that went against us. I think we played a coherent game, even if it wasn’t enough against the quality of Strasbourg.

Now the derby is a new match, and we need to pick up points in the league to get back in touch with the European spots. The situation would have been the same even if we had qualified, so we need to get back into the rhythm of Ligue 1 and do everything possible to earn points, as we have two important matches against Nice and Nantes to help us climb back up the table.

Aggression is a very important factor in the derby, even though it’s crucial to channel it correctly so as not to get carried away by the emotions a derby can bring. Against Strasbourg, we played a team with a lot of character, so that is certainly something to keep in mind when preparing for this match against Nice.

On the key ingredients to bring

We pressed a lot against Strasbourg. Of course, we lost some duels, which was due to the individual quality of Racing’s players, but there was certainly a lack of aggression at certain moments – and that can make the difference when playing against a strong team. In terms of intensity, I think the players gave everything and performed to their maximum. Aggression is a very important factor in the derby, but it’s essential to channel it correctly so as not to get carried away by the emotions a derby can bring. Against Strasbourg, we played a team with a lot of character, so that is definitely something to keep in mind when preparing for the match against Nice.

On recovery

Nice rotated their squad for their Coupe de France match, and we did a bit of the same. We’ll have to work with the players available, be smart in our choices, and take into account the quality of the opponent. A derby has to be played with a lot of heart, intensity, and proper aggression.

As for Nice’s progression in the Coupe de France: winning in the last minute can give a psychological boost with the taste of victory, but I think the substitutes, who are usually starters, provided the necessary impact. Montpellier played a very courageous match, especially in the first half. We’re not going to focus on how their game ended, as every match is different – it’s also a different competition – and we need to get back in touch with the spots ahead of us.

I’ve played many derbies as a player, and even as a coach with Union Saint-Gilloise last year against Anderlecht. These are special matches with expectations and emotions that are different from other games. It comes down to that - the atmosphere in the stadium, the highs and lows of the match, and staying mentally neutral regardless of what happens on the pitch.

On the tactical setup

We always reflect on questions after a match, even though I think everything should be reassessed after a defeat. Since I arrived, we’ve adapted many times, and it’s clear that some adjustments based on the strengths and weaknesses of the squad have paid off, while others less so. We’ve had good games with this three-at-the-back system. But once again, I try to work with what we have in the best way to respond to the profile of the opponent we face.

On managing in derbies

I’ve played many derbies as a player, and even as a coach with Union Saint-Gilloise last year against Anderlecht. These are special matches with expectations and emotions that are different from other games. It comes down to that – the atmosphere in the stadium, the highs and lows of the match, and staying mentally neutral regardless of what happens on the pitch. I have some experience with this, which I’ll be able to share with the players.

On Simon Adingra’s debut

He put in a good performance against Strasbourg, but as I often say, the most important thing is consistency! I hope he can continue this positive first impression. In any case, he’s a versatile player and I think he’s an intelligent signing. I’ve studied him over the past few years, and I hope he can fill multiple roles depending on our needs and the context of each match.