...RISKS

It’s true that we have a big run of matches ahead of us, starting with Rennes this weekend. They’re a very strong team on paper, which is fighting like us for European places. They had a very good match in the Coupe de France against Paris on Wednesday, and did not come far from reaching the final. We are entering decisive weeks for us, but I think we are well prepared for this sequence. I prefer to take risks and win 5-2 rather than see a bad 1-0. I like the idea of developing inspiring football, something that's attractive. And I can tell you that it is not easy to play AS Monaco at the moment.

...RENNES

Once again, this team has a lot of players capable of changing the face of a match, in addition to being able to rely on several different attacking systems. They defend well, whether in midfield or lower, and are very good on the counterattack and even from set pieces, so we know it will be a very difficult match. I expect a Rennes team which will not necessarily press us high. They will certainly defend in midfield, but you will have to be careful in transition because I repeat, because they have very fast and intelligent players. In any case, I will always advocate attacking football, because I don’t like boring matches.

...INJURY REPORT

The choices have sometimes been guided by injuries in recent months. But in recent weeks, we have been recovering a lot of players, since Caio Henrique will also resume training with the group next week. That leaves only Guillermo Maripán out, who should resume playing within two or three weeks. It’s obvious that this shows the level of the daily sessions. We are happy to have everyone available, and this will be crucial in view of the final sprint.

...DEFENSIVE SYSTEM

For us today it is better to play with four at the back, but as I have already explained, we are flexible and have the possibility to change depending on the opponent. It’s true that there are a lot more possibilities than in previous weeks, apart from the fact that certain players like Golovin and Zakaria can play in several positions.

…ABOUT TEAM

We talk a lot about the final destination, but in this case I'm talking about the journey. How do you get there in the end? After every international break, there's something at stake, because inevitably when the group breaks up for 12 days, when some people experience very strong emotions, there can be some consequences. In a very short space of time, we play three away games. I don't think we need a second wind; what we need above all is calm and stability in our analyses and in what we say. In my opinion, things are going too far in one direction or another. They're disappointed but 9ready to go again. They know we have a big game ahead of us.

…MONACO

We've got a big opponent coming up, the 2nd or 3rd best team in France. They've had a week to prepare for the match and it's going to be a big challenge. They're less effective at home but they create the chances. They have opportunities to score in every game because they have depth profiles that hurt up front and down the flanks.

…DEVELOPMENT OF DESIRE DOUE

When I arrived, he didn't play much for the first month. It was a crucial period for observing his behaviour. I learned a lot at that time. I didn't know Désiré very well because when I first arrived he was with the pre-training team. I had the opportunity to see him in a few matches but I didn't really know him. During that period, I saw someone who was disappointed and frustrated, of course, but I also saw someone who was completely committed to his job and his life as a professional player. That was a very powerful observation for me about the kind of player he is. He has managed to show his qualities through his versatility, by being more focused, and with his personality in high-stakes matches. He's played in different positions in different systems, and that's a strength. His development has been very positive. Sometimes he relapses and bounces back, but I'd say that's inevitable at this age. Overall, his progression curve is constant and positive. He knows where he wants to go and he's giving himself the means to get there.