Franck Haise : “The greatest satisfaction is to have done what we decided to do, and that the players adapted to different situations. When we had to go get them, when we had to move the block back, when we had to do high recoveries, low recoveries… Without having done any work in training. Just with video, work with small groups, the intelligence of the players and their adaptation. It’s Nice. The context with this fairly quick second goal in the second period… I’m not trying to fight for possession. Of course, I prefer my team to have the ball as much as possible, but that is not my primary intention. I prefer that we are able to give up possession, especially when we were at 2-0, in order to aspire, to reduce the spaces. We must be able to have these 2 animations: search hard and defend lower. I repeat it often, we don’t have to set limits. The workforce will increase in density in the coming weeks. We have a quality squad. »
Evann Guessand: “I knew it was an important match in terms of the standings. I had to be present, to play with my qualities. It paid off, so good. The Europa League? There is a lot of rotation, but we paid for injuries during European matches. If everyone had been there, we could have done something better and shown a better face, that serves as a lesson. We keep the positive to try to qualify for the next European Cups. Cho? We get along well even off the field, I find in him my qualities of percussion and speed. This can only work between him and me. If I stay in Nice? For the winter transfer window, I am in Nice. The season is underway, we have common goals and I am fully committed to my club. We have goals waiting for us. »
Roberto De Zerbi (Marseille coach): “We didn’t play well, we deserved the defeat. It can happen. Ligue 1 is a very difficult competition. A defeat can happen. Nice is a good team. We kept the ball, we turned it, but not really at the right speed, not with the right attitude to find the opponent’s goal. We conceded the first goal in a very bad way and afterwards we suffered too much. I have real consideration for my players, I believe in them. I think it can be important to have a defeat like that, like the one against Auxerre. We are in 2nd position. We are having a very good season, not extraordinary, but we have to continue to push, because the season is not over. I am positive about the future. We missed the opportunity to get closer to PSG, to take more points compared to Monaco, and the pursuers. We have to accept it, accept defeat and we have to start again on Tuesday, being stronger than today. »
-Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille defender): “We were not OM. We will have to watch this match again, we made a lot of mistakes and a lot of bad things. There was no movement, there are many things to improve. We don’t normally play like that, it’s sad for us. We did not take advantage of this opportunity”
Pierre-Emile Hojberg (Marseille midfielder): “It’s difficult to accept this defeat, Nice was very stable in the way they defended, they attacked from deep, we had our chances, but it’s not acceptable to come here and end the match at 2 -0. We should have scored, they are too easy, I said it a week ago, we are aiming for the top of the ranking, we want to climb, but we still need time to work on things, we have to lead the game for 90 minutes without losing patience without stressing, we will get there, but the road is long. »
