"Reassuring" success, "comfortable" rookies, Giroud's "character" ... The reactions of the Blues after Austria

We didn't want to lose, we didn't want to go down in this League B. We wanted to settle in the opposing camp, impose our game. We tried a lot, we lacked realism in the first period even if we were satisfactory in the game We came back with the same intentions.

We score early in the second half.

The pace slows down a bit.

We put the goal of the break.

And then we manage a bit.

The audience still had a great time.

Reassured?

Sure.

When we are a team like France, not winning for a whole gathering (like in June), that poses a bit of a problem, but we had no doubts, we were sure of our strength even if there are a lot of change in the team.

The French breeding ground is incredible.

Even if the players who are not there are important, there are

others who replace them and do it well, so we're happy.

The premiere by Youssouf Fofana and Benoît Badiashile.

That's great !

It's always difficult to enter the international world.

We are very happy to have them.

This match will give them a lot of confidence for the future.

In June, things didn't go well… We were keen to show a completely different face, our true value.

The conditions weren't optimal with everything that's going on… We know that.

But as the manager said, the truth is on the pitch.

Once you are on the field, there is nothing more that is important.

(the reformed duo with Fofana in the middle) It went very well.

You could see our complementarity… It had been a few weeks, a few months, since we had played together, but nothing has changed and I'm happy for him.

(his upward trajectory in club and selection) There is nothing acquired, I continue to work on a daily basis and we will see what the future holds for me.

I felt good, a bit at home, I don't live very far.

Suddenly, it feels good to return to the Paris region, in a beautiful stadium which was full.

Afterwards, I was comfortable but my partners were also able to help me with my positioning and with the ball.

It could only go well.

My first ?

Overall quite good.

Afterwards, I can be more accurate in the zone of truth.

We deserved to score a goal on those passes.

But overall, good.

Afterwards, I am a bit demanding of myself so I will never say that I had a good match (smile).

The instructions with Tchouaméni?

The coach told us that we had already evolved together and that he was waiting for this double pivot, a midfielder which rises and the other which remains in balance and so on.

We

did a lot of times with Aurélien (smile), so it was quite natural and he understood it well.

It helps to evolve with players I know well like Aurélien and Benoît Badiashile, that's for sure.

is a reassuring victory.

In any case, we had to show another face (compared to June) with more desire and determination, we were fresher too, we didn't end very well last season.

The beginnings of Fofana and Badiashile?

Top !

I found them calm, diligent.

Everything I've seen of them at AS Monaco, I found here.

Frankly, very good beginnings.

My game?

I knew it wouldn't be easy physically, I paid for it late in the game.

I had to show that I can evolve in this team.

I don't think I did it wrong.

Obviously there are things to work on, automation, but I felt good and it has to continue like that.

The future ?

Sometimes it's God who decides too!

I make every effort to be efficient, I

try to be as best as possible, as calm as possible, you have to ignore a lot of things.

Even if everything is new, it's not so new after all.

You have to take the measure of the event but not put more pressure on yourself than that, play your game. I am well surrounded in this team.

That's not bad.

Olivier Giroud ?

True to himself.

He is someone who gives everything on the pitch, who is decisive when asked to be decisive.

Frankly, I congratulate him because sometimes it can't be easy either.

But he has an exceptional strength of character, a warrior mentality and it shows.

You have to take the measure of the event but not put more pressure on yourself than that, play your game. I am well surrounded in this team.

That's not bad.

Olivier Giroud ?

True to himself.

He is someone who gives everything on the pitch, who is decisive when asked to be decisive.

Frankly, I congratulate him because sometimes it can't be easy either.

But he has an exceptional strength of character, a warrior mentality and it shows.

You have to take the measure of the event but not put more pressure on yourself than that, play your game. I am well surrounded in this team.

That's not bad.

Olivier Giroud ?

True to himself.

He is someone who gives everything on the pitch, who is decisive when asked to be decisive.

Frankly, I congratulate him because sometimes it can't be easy either.

But he has an exceptional strength of character, a warrior mentality and it shows.

it shouldn't be obvious either.

But he has an exceptional strength of character, a warrior mentality and it shows.

it shouldn't be obvious either.

But he has an exceptional strength of character, a warrior mentality and it shows.

I felt comfortable because I was well helped by my teammates.

They all gave me confidence and the coach too, he told me to play as I am used to.

That's what I tried to do, it worked for me and I'm very happy.

Legs that tremble à la Marseillaise?

Not at all.

I tried to ignore all that, to stay focused on what I had to do and to listen to the coach's instructions.

(...) Raphaël Varane is our captain and he helped me a lot.

It makes things easier to play with a great defender like that for a player who is making his first selection… (...) The World Cup is in the back of my mind but I am focused on this gathering and what has to happen will happen .

(...) The coach congratulated me on my first selection.