Patrick Vieira spoke to the media in the press conference after the Gym’s defeat against Dijon (1-3).

Patrick, what are your thoughts tonight?

From a performance standpoint, we weren’t good enough in a lot of different areas in the first half. And from then on it’s tough to recover. In the second half we fought back a little bit, but it wasn’t enough. In the game as a whole we made a lot of mistakes. In the first quarter of an hour we really struggled, they made us run after the ball without us being able to put them under any pressure. Our press was getting bypassed far too easily. It was tough to really get into the game. But despite that we had that big chance at 0-0 and if we’d scored things would have changed. But what we produced just wasn’t good enough.

Are the Gym in the midst of a sporting crisis?

We’re in a crisis because of the performance, because we didn’t play like we hoped to. We lacked too many aspects in our play to hope for a better result. But despite that, tonight with a slice of luck we could have scored the first goal of the game and it could have given us more confidence. We saw in the opening moments that we lacked muscle and we were scared, we didn’t release the shackles. When you’re in a tough period and lacking confidence, it shows in the way you play. It was tough for us mentally after we conceded the first goal.

What did your team lack today?

Most of all we lacked aggression. When I say aggression it doesn’t mean putting in horror tackles. Offensively, it’s breaking the lines, finding players in pockets of space, playing the ball in behind. We need to have the determination to put the ball in the back of the net when we are one on one. When you aren’t clinical you’re made to pay. Dijon were playing out from the back far too easily, it was as if they were physically stronger than us, and we weren’t quick enough either. With a bit more luck we could have gotten something out of the game. But the performance was poor.

Do you think you have what it takes to remotivate the group?

I’m in my third season here. Every year there have been tough periods, but we’ve always found the strength to find our way out of them. It’s no different this year.

How are you planning to do that?

We need to stay together, from the staff, to the players, to the board, to the club. We need to stay consistent in what we want to say and do. We have to continue working hard and focus on what we’re lacking to try to get the club where it belongs.

Does the fact that Dijon were bottom of the table make it worse for you?

In tonight’s game did you feel like they were a bottom of the table team? It was only the twelfth game, some teams aren’t where they should be. They played well and deserved their win today. We just weren’t at the races. No matter who we’re facing, if we don’t play with intensity and if we don’t impose our style of play and go forward, it’s always going to be tough.

Does the lack of aggression bother you?

Yes, because that’s what enables us to play the way we want to. If we don’t play aggressively and up the tempo to put our opponents in danger, whoever we play against we’re going to struggle. We need to focus on that aspect, make sure that the players realise that we need to improve in that regard. We’re a young side lacking experience and it cost us in a few periods of the game. We make mistakes and get punished. When we have the chance to score we don’t take it. We’re in a tough period and we don’t have the choice but to get together and work even harder to turn it around.

What was the mood like in the dressing room?

Disappointment, because the players didn’t play the way they wanted to. But it’s not only the players: it’s also the staff, the medical team and the coach. We’re all disappointed. We wanted to bounce back after the Europa League and win to prove that we can do better, but we weren’t good enough. Everyone at the club is disappointed, especially us. I think it’s the same for the fans too, they’ll be sad and angry. We don’t have a choice. We need to work harder and do more. Everyone needs to give a lot more, and then we’ll be able to turn it around.

What did you say to your players?

The message was clear: we’re in a really tough period. We’ve been through this before. We have no choice now: either we all stick together and work a bit harder to turn things around or we’ll start losing focus and it’ll be a mess. I won’t accept that. I’m responsible for all of that. These are the moments when we have to stick together to turn things around.

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