The reactions of Akliouche and Zakaria after the success against Brest

The double scorer and the Monegasque captain were present in the mixed zone to debrief the success acquired against Stade Brestois (3-2).

Mission accomplished! Despite a preparation made complicated due to the international break, the Rouge et Blanc achieved a precious success against Brest (3-2), signed Maghnes Akliouche, author of a double. The talent from the Academy also stopped in the mixed zone to discuss his performance, just like Denis Zakaria, back this evening. Excerpts.

Good evening Maghnes. Can you tell us about your goals and your feelings?

The feeling is obviously good. On the first goal, Eliesse gives it to me well and I finish in one. As for the second, I take the depth, George throws me perfectly into space. On the first touch, I stand in front of the goal and manage to score it. It's important to have the finesse to conclude, that's what I achieved. I'm better with the left but if the ball is close to the goal, I'm able to finish with the right like tonight.

We feel that you have a lot of composure in front of the cages.

We work a lot on this training, it's regular work. It's important for an offensive player to be cool in front of goal, and today it worked for me. I hope it continues this way.

Do you feel like you are gaining strength and confidence?

Yes of course, I feel better and better. It also comes from the collective work which makes me feel comfortable in this team. Now that I know I'm capable of scoring goals, I'll have to repeat that. I think I will have other opportunities in other meetings.

It was important to win this match for Monaco tonight.

Indeed, it was very important. Coming back from the break, it's never easy to win because the players don't come back at the same time, especially since we fell against a great team from Brest. Taking all three was therefore important before the Champions League match. We know that it will be a big meeting because Benfica is playing very well, we will analyze them.

In Strasbourg, you are the one who launched Eliesse. Today, it's the opposite. How do you explain this connection where it seems as if you are with your eyes closed?

It's something natural, we get along well off and on the pitch. Today, he's the one who gave me the goal, it's good for the team.

Do you feel that you have also progressed physically?

Over the course of the matches, we inevitably gain experience and I also progress physically. For an offensive player, it's important to be able to repeat runs and that's a bit of what happened today on third base. So it’s great!

Denis Zakaria's reaction

Good evening Denis. In return for the truce, it's never easy to take three points.

Yes, they are very difficult matches so we are happy to take the three points. I think we started well before experiencing a slightly more complicated second period. In the end, we win this match, that's the most important thing.

Why is this association between Eliesse and Maghnes important?

All players are important. Today, Maghnes helped us a lot with these two goals. He is improving day by day and we are very happy to have him on our team. He will help us a lot until the end of the season.

Do you feel that he is progressing from match to match?

Very clearly, yes. Since the day I arrived at the start of last season, he is a player who has completely progressed. I would even say it's another player. I am very happy with its development.

I think he will be a very, very great player. (On the aspects where he has progressed?) On almost everything. Before he was a bit of a “kid”, today he has matured in his game. He often makes fair and good choices. He's a truly incredible player.

How do you explain this more complicated second period?

It's difficult to say, we have to analyze the match. I think we stopped playing after the second goal, that was our biggest mistake. If we had continued to play and scored that third, the game would have been easier. We are happy with these three points in the end.

On a more personal level, how are you?

For my part, it's okay! It's been a month since I played so it wasn't easy in terms of pace but I'm happy to be back with the team and to take these three points.

What style of captain do you think you are on and off the field?

I am a rather calm captain by nature. On the pitch, I try to help the team which is quite young. I don't have to do much, they already do things very well. It's an easy role with a team like that and I'm very happy to be the captain. Basically, I talk to everyone, I'm a fairly open person. I don't have a problem with that.

You talked about a young team. Do all these young players surprise you?

Very clearly, they are all very strong. In Monaco, when I arrived here, I quickly saw the quality there was in the young players. Today and especially for Soungou', I have to say congratulations because he had an incredible match. He has performed well several times, so we are very happy for him and his development. We can see that he can bring a lot to this team.

You are ten points away in the Champions League. Can securing qualification for the play-offs against Benfica put pressure on?

I don't think so because we take it game by game every time. We want to win everything so we will play to try to take the three points and deliver the best possible performance. At the end we'll see where we'll be but it's definitely a good start.