Patrick Vieira kept his weekly meeting with the press, scheduled for Thursday lunchtime. The coach was therefore able to deliver his views on the decision taken, just moments earlier, to postpone the derby. 

“We are a bit disappointed not to be able to play the match, explained the Gym’s coach, but given what is going on at the moment, it is understandable. We live in France, we see what is happening, and the difficult moments that the country is going through. Of course, we feel solidarity with the people of France” 

“Decisions have been taken, and we will accept with them. The postponement is not serious, there are more important things than a match. It will allow us to give a little bit more rest to a couple of players, especially those who were injured. The match (against Saint-Etienne) is scheduled to take place next Friday (kick-off at 8.45pm at the Allianz Riviera). We will give the players the weekend off and we will meet up again on Monday.” 

A period of rest that will “also do us some good because we have just played two matches, concluded the coach. It will allow us to get back 2-3 players who had slight niggles.” Notably the captain. “For Dante (who came off in the 77th minute against Angers), it was nothing serious.