After giving his thoughts on the arrivals of Mads Bech Sörensen, Joe Bryan and Gaëtan Laborde, Lucien Favre took a step back to analyse three major themes at the club.

THE TRANSFER WINDOW

“I’m happy. This situation was complicated, but I understood it, because I’m used to it. All my colleagues are in the same position, they’re happy the transfer window is closed. It’s been years that we’ve been doing this. We’re used to it, it’s not the end of the world. It’s always better to start with a team that is ready. In 2016, [N.B. when he first arrived at Le Gym], it was the same thing. We have to adapt. I think what we have done is not bad at all. I’m happy with the profiles we’ve brought in.”

THE SYSTEM

“The players are professionals, they have to be ready to adapt to any situation, to every system. They sometimes have a preference for a position, that’s logical, and it doesn’t worry me. The players have to be happy to come here, that’s the case. Today, they’re very happy. We have to communicate to them that we’re happy that they’re here, and help them settle in. It’s important that they gain confidence. On first impression, they look to have a good attitude, that’s very important.”

MONACO

“I’ve seen, while analysing them, that they have changed their system. After being set up in a 4-2-3-1, they played in 3-4-1-2 and then 3-4-3 in Paris where they played an excellent game and caused PSG problems. It’s up to us to build on what we did at Lille by playing better than we did there. We have room for improvement in terms of keeping the ball, in our play. It’s going to be a good game.”

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