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Vieira : “There was some easing off”

Patrick Vieira delivered his analysis after Les Aiglons’ qualification for the Round of 16 of the Coupe de France, following victory over Red Star (2-1).

Patrick, how would you analyse this match?  Did you want to hold on to your lead in the second half?
It wasn’t our desire to manage the lead in the second half. In the first half, we saw some very interesting stuff. In the second, we were nonexistent. But what really bothers me was that lack of enthusiasm, commitment... the running, jumping, playing. We coasted through the second half.

How would you explain that?
These are still the limitations of this team. To be consistent, to put in the effort, and continuing to play for the team, while adding intensity into all that we do. We need to learn lessons from every game. Unfortunately, it’s clear that we lack consistency. Our first half was interesting, on the left, there was good work between Adam (Ounas) and Alexis (Claude-Maurice). But with some over-confidence maybe, we lost it. We allowed Red Star to grow in confidence, thankfully Walter (Benitez) made two or three good saves. There was some easing off. A lack of experience but also some arrogance. To be a top side, you need to cut that out.

It seems that you are annoyed, despite the qualification for the Round of 16.
I won’t hide the fact that the second half disappointed me and spoils the satisfaction of the qualification and our good first half. The club’s objective was to qualify, that’s done, but as the coach, I am not satisfied by it. Going on a run in this competition is an objective, especially given that we have had a good draw in the first two rounds.

“We crossed more for Kasper”

On a positive note, your left-hand side worked better today...
We tried as a coaching team to set up this formation, with Adam on the wing, to use his quality passing and his ability to beat players one-on-one. We crossed more and got the ball into the box for Kasper.

A word on Danilo, who once again stepped back into centre back?
He is very good with his head, technically very comfortable. He is intelligent so makes up for his lack of experience in defence. He helped the team. The good thing is that we can see that he is happy to be on the pitch, even though he isn’t playing in his position. There are lots of players who could learn a lot from Dani'.

You made changes quite early on in the second half. For what reasons?
To strengthen our balance in midfield. To be slightly more solid and bring on some fresh legs. But our problem in the second half wasn’t physical, it was in our mental approach. And that bothers me. We can’t allow ourselves to go out onto the pitch being easy and not playing as a team. We need to erase this side of things in order to grow. Playing together, we can be a good team, but playing as individuals, we become a very average team.