Before Strasbourg's reception on Sunday at the Vélodrome, Neal Maupay, OM striker, was present at a press conference. Excerpts.
Elimination in the Coupe de France
“Obviously disappointed with the result, we announced that we wanted to have a good run, so it’s disappointing. We still showed some great things, we continued our momentum. We don't have time to lower our heads, we got back to work and analyzed what we could have done well or done badly. We are ready for Sunday.
I had a few situations where I could have done better. On Mason's lob, I'm at the end of the race, the defender in front of me misses the ball and it hits my hand. A bit of bad luck but that's how it is, sometimes we are efficient, others a little less. We don't have time to think. I looked at what I could improve on and I can’t wait to bounce back on Sunday.”
His love for chambering
“I like sleeping and that’s all. Social networks are for everyone, everyone gives their opinion, I do it too. It's not because I play Football that I have to deprive myself of it. I like to throw barbs like the supporters and players do. I have always been myself. You think I'm crazy, but you don't sleep with your friends? I just have a platform… I did it before, I will do it after football. For some players, with notoriety, it's complicated to be yourself. I prefer to be myself.”
Arbitration
“To be honest, outside of matches, we don't say to ourselves: 'why are the decisions against us?' “. We don't want to waste energy on things we can't control. We know how we are refereed but we cannot change it. There's no point in making a fuss about it. The important thing is this ability to stay together, as a team. We have this strength which means that we manage not to disperse.”
-OM's ambitions
“I was planning to say that we were going to take the matches one after the other (smile). We are disappointed to be eliminated from the Cup, but we played a good match with situations where we could have scored. The group is mentally strong, we are all united and focused on the same objective, which is to qualify for the Champions League and finish as high as possible. Paris is seven points behind, but teams are not far behind us, it could go either way. We all work together and I feel that the group is mentally strong. Tuesday, we come back in the last seconds and it shows our mental quality and our collective strength. I have confidence in us to put this defeat aside.”
The difference in profile compared to Elye Wahi
“That’s a good question. It's a question of balance and what the coach is looking for. At the moment, he thinks my profile is more suited to the team. Elye is hurt, but it goes both ways quickly. At the start of the season, I was on the bench and number 2. Elye has different qualities from mine, he is young and I know he will do us good when he is back. Arriving in Marseille at your age is also difficult. But I’m sure he’ll get there.”
Comments reported by RMC Sport.
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