​

In front of the press, Patrick Vieira congratulated his players for never giving up after three disappointing games in terms of results.

Patrick, it’s a huge result for the Gym this evening and a great satisfaction for you.

It’s never simple when coming here. We battled, we came to defend well, whilst keeping the philosophy which is important for us. We waited for the right moment to score. A draw would have been deserved for Lyon, because they had lots of chances, but the luck was on our side this evening. To go back to Nice with the three points is great for morale. We were lacking a bit of luck, confidence, to have a match we could refer to. We had it this evening. The players showed that we have quality. There was solidarity there too. Now, we need to continue to work.

You changed your system, can you explain why?

We knew that we would have difficult periods this evening. The important thing is to be able to hold on during the tougher times. We knew that with Allan and Mario up-front, we were going to create chances. To play with five at the back allowed us to defend two on one down the wings. We showed some great solidarity.

Walter Benitez saved everything...

He was very good. You don’t leave Lyon with a clean sheet without a good keeper. All of the team worked hard, Walter but also Christophe (Jallet), Mario (Balotelli) and the others. It’s true that Walter had a very good game. He was a great example for the team. He accepted the decisions that I have taken in recent weeks without ever dropping his head, he continued to work and what he did this evening was extraordinary for the team.

You decided to put your confidence in Yoan Cardinale at the start of the season, a choice that has surprised some…

The squad understands and accepts the decisions that I take. I make choices, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but I have always gone with my instinct. When I make a decision, it’s because I feel that it is for the good of the team, not for a player individually. Walter showed this evening the perfect way to react. He never complained in training, he worked even harder and was able to prove himself when the team needed him. It’s a great lesson for the other players.

The return of Mario Balotelli is also very important for your side…

He’s a precious player. He has presence up front, a strength that he is able to give to the team. His presence enhances the team. He had a very good first half, then it was to be expected that he would drop physically a bit, but he was very good this evening. We had planned to play Mario a bit deeper than Allan, allowing him to attack the space. There was a good understanding between them, even though not everything was perfect.

Your side showed character and aggressiveness this evening, things that were missing a week ago...

I never doubted the squad, I work with these players every day and they are fully concentrated, with a desire to succeed. We lacked a lot of luck in the first three games, it’s great that it was with us this evening. The match against Dijon hurt us as a team and individually, but it showed us that we all need to do more. I am happy that they players never gave up despite the criticism and they were able to answer those critics positively.

---