Claude Puel spoke at a press conference after OGC Nice’s defeat at the Allianz Riviera against PSG on Matchday 27 of Ligue 1 (0–4).

How much of a role did refereeing play in this defeat, in your opinion?

That’s for you to decide tomorrow in your reports. What can I say… I felt we were watching an interesting match, with a good, competitive first half. There were tactical elements and quality on both sides. I think that whenever we had the ball, we moved it well and posed a real threat to this team. We had situations and chances. I even think we may have created more than them in the first half. We also had some good set pieces. Very little was lacking to open the scoring and take the lead in this match.

Then, of course, it was a turning point to concede a goal like that just before half-time, which didn’t reflect the good performance we had produced. If you want, we can go back over that move. I think we didn’t start the second half well enough, we lacked aggression, we allowed this team to play too freely, to impose their tempo, and then, with one burst, they hurt us with the second goal. At 0–2, it became difficult against a team that controls the game well, waits for the opponent, and can accelerate on the counter. And the red card at 0–2 sealed the fate of the match.

Do you think that it shouldn’t have been a penalty?

Honestly, in this situation, VAR completely distorts what we expect from this tool, which is supposed to be an addition, not something that punishes a team but prevents incorrect decisions. Here, we see a shot with a player trying to turn, not even looking at the ball, a shot from almost point-blank range that’s going out. There isn’t a single person on the pitch, referees or opponents, who expects anything from that action, and yet it ends up ruining a whole good performance and a strong first half. So yes, it hurts.

And if we want to go all the way, I’d also like to revisit the corner taker who slips: if you look closely in slow motion, with his standing foot, he touches the ball so it moves, then crosses with his left foot. It’s completely crazy. If we’re going to use VAR, then use it all the way. It’s not the first time since I arrived… We had a penalty given against us with Dante, and we’ve seen opponents do the same without being punished. I think it was right that they weren’t punished, just as I think it’s completely illegitimate that we were.

You had chances - what ultimately hit your team the hardest? The penalty or conceding so quickly in the second half?

It’s a combination of everything. Conceding a goal like that hurts. You know we’re on a mission, so to speak, and that the twists of a match, the events that can happen, don’t spare us, whether it’s penalties like that, or goals conceded in first-half stoppage time or at the very end of a game in the 98th minute. There are many things that make it difficult when you suffer blows like that, because we put in the effort.

I have players who give so much and are brave, who go back into battle every time, because you always have to start again. There’s such disappointment and frustration in our matches that we have to reset, and every week that’s what we do. And they don’t give up, they’re there. We’ll let them recover during the international break, even though eleven players will be away, and we hope to have everyone back to prepare for the Strasbourg match.

At least now we’re hardened, we know it will only come from us, and we keep working, we won’t give up. Apart from the Rennes match, which was a non-performance from us, I don’t think anyone can say this team is giving up, dropping their heads, or quitting. And that’s important, and it will remain so until the end.

Beyond being five points ahead of Auxerre tonight, there’s also a seven-goal difference with them. Could that play a role in the relegation battle? Should you be careful, if you lose, not to lose by big margins like against Rennes and Paris?

We’re aware of the situation, as I’ve said from the start. We got a good result in Angers, we had an eight-point lead, and I felt from the questions and comments in the media: “That’s it, the hard part is done.” No. Auxerre aren’t giving up, I’ve seen their matches, there’s quality and plenty of chances. Even when they played Marseille, they caused problems for OM. No team is going to give up.

Whether we’re 8, 5, 6 or 3 points ahead, we’ll fight until the end because that’s how it is. That’s what we’re committed to, and we’re ready. You have to be ready. We’ve had bad luck and many difficulties, but we get back up. It’s part of our DNA to have to grind it out, and we’ll do it until the very end.

This was Youssouf Ndayishimiye’s first start in almost a year after his injury. What made you decide to start him? Was it perhaps a bit too soon to throw him back in at this level?

Are you saying you thought he was poor? I don’t agree with you. I thought he was interesting, with a good first half. He was steady, technically clean, and it was positive. Based on what he’s been showing in training, it was good. Now, if you judge his match solely on his red card, that’s a different story.

 

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