After Le Gym’s victory at Angers (0-3), Coach Vieira delighted in his side’s performance at the end of another week of two matches.

Coach, you must be happy with this second victory of the week (after the win over Beer-Sheva on Thursday in the Europa League).

I am happy with the team’s performance. Today, we saw a united team. We had some difficult moments, but we stuck together and accepted the superiority of Angers at some points in the match. We didn’t concede and we were well set-up. It was a very good team performance, which shows the quality of the squad.

Despite 5 changes to the starting eleven from Thursday evening, the team put on a good show.

The players that started the match were good and that’s a positive. What’s important is that they all feel involved because we need everybody. A starting spot is tough to come by and when the players are on the pitch, they give their all for the team. Not everything was perfect but after a European match, we can be happy and proud of a performance like the one today.

In the second half, it was a little bit more difficult for your players physically.

It’s true that it was more difficult for us physically in the second half and especially in the final twenty minutes. The idea was to go out and get Angers and to stop them from finding themselves between the lines, but it’s difficult to play at that intensity for 90 minutes after a Europa League match. We accepted their domination, tightened out lines and had chances to play.

How are your players feeling after this intense run of matches?

There are always question marks around the physical condition after a match in Europe and in terms of what we showed today, I am proud of my players for digging deep. Lots of them are used to playing at this rhythm and it’s also a first for me as a coach. We need to manage the physical aspect and make good choices. The build-up of matches is difficult when it comes to the recovery. I am happy with the work that the Fitness Coach, doctors and medical staff have been doing. We have another two important matches to come before the international break, but when you win, you recover a little more quickly.

You have a well-stocked group of attacking players

We have options with players who want to succeed, who are serious and always work for the squad. When the team works well, it’s easy for them. They are beginning to understand that’s it’s through the team that they will be able to show how good they are. Today they also worked a lot defensively. That’s what allowed us to win the ball high up the pitch and to be dangerous. When everyone is involved in that, we begin to put in performances like the one today.

What did you make of Flavius Daniliuc as he came on to replace Dante, who was forced off through injury?

I thought he looked comfortable. He has a strong personality and is able to bring the ball out from the back calmly. I think that he did very well given that we were in difficulty at that moment in the game.

And what did you make of the performances of Amine Gouiri and Rony Lopes up-front.

Since Amine arrived, he has been able to express his talent. He is in the process of getting better. He is someone who loves football and enjoys playing with his teammates. He has a lot of scope to progress but when he is focused and plays for the team, he is able to do great things like this afternoon.

Rony Lopes arrived from Seville, where he didn’t play much, but when you see the work he puts in on a daily basis, we know that it will come for him. Everyone is behind him and today he put in an excellent performance and scored a goal, which will set him on his way. Competition will start to take shape in the squad and that’s a good thing to raise the level of the squad.

A word or two on Jeff Reine-Adélaïde’s first start?

He is getting up to speed. We had planned for him to play an hour this afternoon. He is very talented technically. When he is at 100%, he will be very useful and important for us.

Youcef Atal was at the heart of a polemic this week, have you spoken to him about it?

Of course we have spoken about it. Youcef was clumsy, but I know him very well, I have worked with him for three years and we need to be careful about generalisations. The club and I are behind him, for us, there is no polemic to be had.

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