The reactions of Embolo, Diatta and Minamino after the win over Clermont | OneFootball

A few moments after a big win against Clermont (4-1), Breel, Krépin and Takumi spoke in the mixed zone to give their feelings and discuss in particular the race for the podium.

They have taken a further step towards the Champions League. Serious winners against Clermont at the Stade Louis-II (4-1), our Rouge et Blanc took a big step towards consolidating second place in Ligue 1. After this important win, Breel Embolo, Krépin Diatta and Takumi Minamino spoke in the mixeed zone about what was a favorable result. 🎙️

Good evening Krépin. Does this victory confirm that the defeat in Lyon was a misstep?

Yes, as you just saw. We were on a good run before that, with eight games without the slightest defeat before this slip-up in Lyon (3-2) which hurt us. But today the main thing was to react, and the whole team was able to do so positively.

We will give our all until the end, as this victory is important to be able to prepare for the next two matches. If we want to go to the Champions League, we will have to respond by winning these two games.

Krépin DiattaOn reaching the Champions League

Did the fact of scoring very quickly reassure you?

We knew that if we wanted to win this match, we had to score from the off and be efficient in both areas. We scored this goal very early and I think that was the catalyst for the match.

Have you done the hardest part in terms of finishing on the podium now?

Not the hardest, because we will have to play hard until the last round. We must maintain this intensity and this efficiency. We will give our all until the end, as this victory is important to be able to prepare for the next two matches. If we want to go to the Champions League, we will have to respond by winning these two games.

A word on Wissam Ben Yedder who has been very clinical…

Yes but it’s nothing new, he’s a player who scores around twenty goals each season. These things happen but we never doubted him and neither did he! You have to see in training how he works, as soon as we finish a session, he is working on his finishing so we knew he was going to score at any moment.

And a goalscoring return for Breel!

He had an excellent match! We have the returns of Breel and now Caio Henrique. They are two very important players for us, who will also matter in the matches to come. I’m very happy for Breel, he worked hard to come back, we saw how he struggled, but he always got through it.

We are in second place, but we have to continue to give everything to be able to keep it, it is very important for us!

Krépin DiattaAbout AS Monaco's goals

He brings us a lot, in terms of our pressing, we can play off him because he has the ability to hold the ball and wait for the team to come up to be able to combine. So he’s a very important player for us and he’s clinical in his finishing.

What is AS Monaco aiming for now?

We are in second place, but we have to continue to give everything to be able to keep it, it is very important for us!

The reaction of Breel Embolo

Good evening, Breel. This win helps you get closer to the Champions League!

We did the work, as I said in the pre-match press conference, we had three rounds left to focus on this objective, and now it’s two. We did the work in the first half but also in the second, and we showed that despite this match in Lyon, we are still on a good path and full of confidence.

We sense a level of restraint, not an outpouring of joy…

No it’s not over yet, I saw that we were sure to finish fourth in the worst case scenario. Now we are second, we want to keep this place in the table, and we will do everything to do so. We have that in our legs and we will try to finish the season well.

It’s a very nice move by the team, so I’m very happy. It feels good, because my last goal was starting to date back a while (laughs)! I'm very happy with this victory, there's no point in scoring if the team doesn't win, but today it was really satisfying

Breel EmboloOn the feeling of having scored again

Have you lost the habit of celebrating your goals?

No, this goal was more for the staff and all the people who supported me and helped me, who pushed me to come back in this way. It’s a big injury, which requires a lot of patience and work and the staff was always there, even when I was unbearable or when I didn’t have my head up, so it was really for them.

How did you feel when you put the ball in the net?

It’s a very nice move by the team, so I’m very happy. It feels good, because my last goal was starting to date back a while (laughs)! I’m very happy with this victory, there’s no point in scoring if the team doesn’t win, but today it was really satisfying! I am not a player who is defined only by goals but also by actions, confidence and my contributions to the way we play.

How do you explain your connection with Wissam Ben Yedder?

I’ve always said it, with Wissam, it’s always been very simple! It’s not like I’ve been with him in training for a week. He’s a great player, I know his qualities, his personality and today he didn’t come far from scoring a hat-trick. He played mein really well for my goal, he’s a very important player for us and I still enjoy playing alongside him.

The reaction of Takumi Minamino

Good evening Taki’, it was a good match today, with the victory at the end of the day…

Yes, personally I am happy to take the three points today. These last three matches are very important and we can’t lose one, because Lille and Brest can catch up with us, so we have to keep pushing. I am also very happy with this goal.

Can you tell us about this goal?

When the opponent lost the ball, the ball came to my feet and at that moment I took my time because there was space around me. So I controlled the ball and my shot went into the top corner so I’m really happy, it’s a great goal.

AS Monaco is still in second place!

Yes it is a very good sign for all the players, because we have not been spared from injuries this season. But we have a very good squad and very good young players too. Everyone here is ambitious and we showed it today!