As the FIFA international break comes to an end, Ligue 1 is ready to restart, and one of the first fixtures this week is Paris Saint-Germain against AS Monaco.
Monaco manager Niko Kovač spoke with the media ahead of their matchup against Les Parisiens. Kovač spoke about the capital club, where he mentioned the inevitable absences that their opponent will have as a result of PSG’s upcoming UEFA Champions League matchup against RB Leipzig.
“For them, too, players are absent and come back from their selections, in addition to injuries. We saw yesterday that Kylian Mbappé played against Sweden, and we expect to face the best possible PSG team,” Kovač said.
“We know that the Parisians have a very important game against Leipzig in the Champions League next week, but that doesn’t change anything. We will have to be 100%. I believe in my players, the atmosphere is good, and playing against the best players in the world is always a satisfaction. We will give everything from the first to the last minute.”
Then they questioned Kovač about Thomas Tuchel, as the coach of Les Parisiens is living a complicated season full of setbacks and rains of criticism for his management, criticism that increased after the defeat against RB Leipzig in the Champions League; however, Kovač defended his colleague.
“This is a difficult question. The coach is always designated as responsible. As we say in Germany, if you win, it’s not because of the coach, but when you lose, it’s his fault. You are still a loser as a coach, and it’s easy to point the finger systematically,” Kovač said.
“I know Thomas. He’s a very good person and a good coach. What more do you want to do than win four titles and play a Champions League final? Maybe win five with Bayern Munich, yes.”
Next week, it’s likely that the capital club will have their Champions League season on the line against RB Leipzig, who defeated them on matchday three. A win convincing win over Monaco will calm some nerves and provide good vibes as PSG heads into their biggest match of the 2020-21 season thus far.
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