“I expect a very intense match against Strasbourg”

Satisfied by the reaction of his team in the Champions League in Bologna (0-1 success), the Monegasque technician appeared before the media again, on the eve of the trip to Strasbourg (5 p.m.).

Leave again! Angry after the two defeats in a row in the league, Adi Hütter was all the more delighted to see his players seek victory in the final moments in Bologna this Tuesday (0-1). A new convincing performance in the Champions League, which the Monegasque coach now wishes to repeat in Ligue 1. This is what he told the press before going to Strasbourg (Saturday, 5 p.m.). Excerpts ????️

On the state of the group

Denis Zakaria is back in training today, as is Mohammed Salisu. We hope that most of the squad will be available for this important match against Strasbourg. Folarin Balogun is also on track to be back with us after the international break. He did a lot of work with the medical staff to return as quickly as possible. In any case, he performs exercises in training that do not require contact with his shoulder.

About rotation

We think about the situation of each player on a case-by-case basis depending on their state of fatigue. Yesterday we gave the group a day off, as we returned late from our trip to Bologna, so there was no point in training. But it is indeed possible that we may make changes to certain positions.

About Strasbourg

I can say a lot about this training! It's a very good team, even if they lost their last match against Saint-Etienne (2-0), although they had a good match. When we look at the performances they were able to put in at home against Lens, Marseille or even away against Paris Saint-Germain, it's a very solid one.

It is also the youngest team in Ligue 1, it seems to me, which plays very interesting, very intense football. So there are very good players, like Sebastian Nanasi or Diego Moreira, who is really a great element.

On the resemblance between the two teams

Strasbourg, a profile similar to us? I repeat, they play a very aggressive game, with a lot of intensity. On the other hand, they have a different but well-defined structure, with three defenders, two defensive midfielders and two players who play behind the attacker. Sometimes they can have difficulties, but we will show our analysis of this team to our players today.

Liam Rosenior's style

I have a very good image of him. He was Wayne Rooney's assistant in England at Derby County, before starting out as number one, notably at Hull City. It's very interesting to see how he manages his team during a match, but also what his philosophy is, and it is very clear to me. He has a very interesting profile, and I respect his work a lot. So it will be a good rival, and we are ready for this match tomorrow.

On Alsatian threats

We'll see tomorrow! I think they will press us high, with a lot of aggression, especially in their stadium with the support of the public. It's not easy to play there, especially with the intensity this team puts on the field. But we must use their weak points to counter them.

The Club's ambition

We are ambitious, everyone knows it! But when you are facing a team like Paris Saint-Germain, they are inevitably the favorites for the title. Concerning our players and overall at the Club level, it is not forbidden to dream, and we accept the fact of having high ambitions. But above all we have to show a great performance on the pitch this weekend, because it is a good test.

We are one of the candidates for the top of the table, but there is also Marseille, which is very solid this season, just like Lille, Lens and even Nice which is a good team. Today we are six points behind PSG, that’s a fact. What I like is having control over our progress, especially since we are talking about a young team. However, what we produced against Angers was not acceptable.

Show the face of C1 in Ligue 1

In the Champions League, we are happy with our record with already 10 points on the clock. In Ligue 1 he's not bad either, with 20 points, but we were angry with Angers, so it was important to respond to Bologna. As a coach, what I like to see is the reaction of my players after a defeat.

After 10 Ligue 1 matches, it makes no sense to me to talk about a battle for the title! Let us play good football, develop our young talents, progress, and then we will see where we can stand compared to the other teams. We want to win all our matches, but once again there is a lot of competition in this championship.

The victory gleaned in Bologna

You can imagine that after two defeats, it is never easy to bounce back and win. Especially since Bologna remained on 28 matches without defeat at home in Europe, so this shows that the team's reaction was good!

After Angers, I said that it was not possible to offer such a performance, especially in the first half in terms of attitude. We must therefore prepare to unleash another battle against Strasbourg, who are a good team, especially at home. We know which team faces us tomorrow, it's up to us to be ready and as focused as in Bologna.

On the face to show

For me the most important thing as a coach is to study how we play, how we can progress. When I see, for example, that we are the best team in Europe on corners with six goals already scored, I am satisfied.

I also want to thank my deputies who are responsible for the work on set pieces, and who work a lot to ensure that we are as efficient in the sector. It’s thanks to this that we won in Bologna! Then my role is to ensure the progress of our team and our way of playing.

About set pieces

There are four of us working on these phases, with my three assistants as well as a video analyst. This helps us a lot, both defensively and offensively. This is why we do fantastic work in the sector. It's not always the same strategy obviously, since we adapt to each opponent's way of defending.

The important thing is that we are able to adapt. The truth is that we are very efficient in these phases, and once again all the credit goes to my assistants, the analysts and the players. Nearly 30% of goals today are scored in this sector of the game, so we spend the time it takes to be able to perform well in this area.

How to create a new dynamic

The most important thing was to bounce back in Bologna, which was not easy, especially in their stadium. We showed the face we need to win. But you have to be careful, because sometimes in Ligue 1 our attention can be a little lower.

We cannot win a Champions League match, especially away, if there is no discipline at the tactical level. Against Angers, my criticisms were linked to the fact that we did not concentrate our efforts in the same direction. When we defend our goal, everyone must adopt the same attitude, which we were able to do perfectly in Bologna.