Coach, we saw a Le Gym side with two faces once again in this encounter. 

We struggled with the organisation of Les Monégasques and their possession. We were’t able to find the spaces. It made for a broken-winded first half, and a strong one, with Monaco taking the lead with a well-constructed goal. It was totally different in the second half. We made sure the match opened up with more runs forward, with rhythm and speed in our passing. The team showed another side of themselves in the second half, against a team that has been prepared for Europe for several months. I liked the movement and commitment that the players brought in the second half.

Is frustration the feeling that reigns out after this match?
Yes, but Monaco also could have won this match. It just so happens that we had the chance to win this match. So of course, there is frustration, but to beat these top quality teams, you need to perform for the whole of the match. We were miles behind the opposition in the first half, and very far from each other when we had the ball, without linking up in our play. In the second, we played a lot higher and we came out with a lot more conviction, there was better link-up play and we scored two great goals. There is frustration in the way things played out, but I think both sides could have won, and in the end the draw is a fair result.

Do you see that as a point gained or two points lost this afternoon?
In the way that things played out, it’s two points lost, but once again, Monaco could have punished us at certain times, especially in the second half with the 1-on-1. It came down to very little. For the Monaco penalty, I am disappointed that we were caught out so naively. For the foul, but also at the outset of the move. We watched a Monaco player who was on the floor and we allowed them to play and that led to a penalty. I don’t like saying that we are still learning because we don’t have time to learn when you are playing competitive football, but it needs to serve as a lesson. We need to be a little smarter when we are leading the match. We need to have control of the situation and be a little more shrewd in order to lead the match for longer.

Did you raise your voice in the dressing room at half-time?
I didn’t raise my voice, I asked my team to play higher up the pitch in order to win more second balls because we were cut in half before the break, and the two Monaco midfielders (Tchouaméni and Fofana) were on the sofa. It’s the first time that we have been trailing in a match (0-1 at the break) and that was the basis of my team-talk. We needed to do more and differently and I was curious to see the reaction of my side. They showed that they are capable of doing more and playing differently in a match that looked to be heading in the wrong direction against a strong opponent. As soon as we started to gain 10 metres, there was a lot more density. We were there battling for the ball in midfield and closer to the opposition’s goal.

What did you make of Delort’s performance and his link-up with Gouiri?
He came on in the first half in the same way as his teammates, but was very good after the break, very dangerous. He has already integrated himself into our way of playing and with his relationship with his teammates. I am not surprised because he knows Ligue 1 well and some of his teammates too. He is a real football man, he has that relationship with the game. His link-up with Amine was very good at Nantes (0-2). This time it was Amine who delivered a great cross and Andy is very strong with his head. They complement each other. I have three quality forwards, with also the young Evann Guessand who will come through. We have weeks of training where we can work together, create connections and the fact that they are all really invested in this, allows very quick integration.