Interview by our correspondent in Nice ,
How do you welcome this victory against AS Monaco, acquired after additional time and after being led?
Patrick Vieira: It gives us a lot of emotion. It was a very complicated match and we must all the more savor this success. The players really went to the end to take the three points. They were rewarded for their efforts. We have not stolen these three points. Even though it was very difficult for us, we deserve this victory.
Is this one of the best games of OGC Nice this season?
It is certainly the scenario of the match that makes you ask me this question. But we must recognize that in the first half, we really got into trouble. It was very difficult for us to get the ball out properly and play. It was even difficult to create opportunities, to pose problems for them. But overall, it was a pretty consistent match on our part.
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In fact, the match completely changed when you changed your tactical system, going from a defense to 5 to a defense to 4…
What I remember most is the adaptability of the players. Whether we play with five or four defenders, what is important is that they understand the systems well. When you're in trouble on a match, you have to be able to change. Tonight (Saturday), the players adapted very well when it was necessary to change the system. And those who entered during the match brought a lot to the team. It was very important for us.
OGC Nice owes the victory tonight to Dolberg, author of a double?
The double is due to the collective. Kasper (Dolberg) is a player who is always on the move and who can anticipate a lot. He suffered a lot during the first period because he was a little isolated. But it scores two important goals for us.
"I saw entrants who brought something"
Beyond the victory, what are your satisfactions this evening?
I saw players who were really very concerned, I saw a good group, I saw entrants who brought something. The solidarity that we had in difficult times was also very important. This is what will give us hope to finish as high as possible.
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When we look at the classification, we see that OGC Nice is sixth today. Does the podium seem possible to you by the end of the season?
We are sixth, but that may change tomorrow (Sunday). I always said that this championship was very tight, very complicated. For me and for the group, the objective is really to focus on what we want to do on the field, on the quality of play. After that, the ranking varies very quickly. We have been saying for a few months “ why not? »But it is true that on the last matches, we missed this opportunity which could have made us switch to this« top group ». Tonight was an important game. We managed to win it. Now, you have to go to Paris then receive Montpellier: these will be complicated matches. What is needed is to follow up and then we will see.
A first match was postponed in France because of the coronavirus. Are you worried about the rest of the championship?
We are following this very closely. We will follow the advice that will be given because we have no choice. We prefer of course to play a match in front of the world. We could see tonight that with the atmosphere that there was at the stadium, the supporters allowed us to go and seek this victory. But there are things that are much more important. From there, we will wait for the instructions and we will follow them.
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