Claude Puel : "Maintain our state of mind"

How are you tackling the match against Oleksandria?

It’s an important match. As a matter of principal, we must approach all matches with the idea of winning them. Championship or Coupe d’Europe, it’s the same thing. What interests me are the components that we’ll put in place to win it. The objective is to play and give it our all in order to have a reward at the blow of the final whistle. Winning this match? Yes, of course. Like all others.

What is your opinion of the situation of the club in the UEFA Europa League?

We’re behind in this competition, like we were in the championship, and as we are still, by the way. Behind from an accounting point of view, but also in overall technical quality. We have to continue to progress and maintain the state of mind that we’ve been showing for a few weeks. This team, since the match in Nîmes, has started working. We mustn’t give up. We’re not dominating, we aren’t yet controlling our matches, so there is a way to go.

Would you say that the UEFA Europa League is a priority?

It’s a priority. The match in Bordeaux was one as well, the one in Amiens will be one too. We only have priorities.

Are you thinking of integrating more experienced players than in your starting lineup in Bordeaux?

I always have it in mind to have a balanced team, with advantages in the beginning and throughout the course of the match. During the two matches that I managed, the eleven that started showed good things. And, the bench knew how to bring added value. By playing every three days, with a homogenous group like ours, it’s important to open up the team and to try to conserve our freshness. I try to get to know everyone a bit in order to have a starting lineup and a bench that makes sense. That’s my only desire. There is no age to begin. What’s important is the quality and the state of mind that the player shows.

What is your judgement of the Oleksandria team?

It’s a combative team. It is essentially based on a collective, a good state of mind, a great aggressiveness. The team also performs well on free-kicks and benefits from high-quality individuals. But, above all, I would like to underline their character. Against La Gantoise, they played a really good match

In what state of mind are you on the eve of a European Cup match?

I’m concentrated. Concentrated to win a series of matches and improve the quality of our output. The mental aspects are important because we need freshness to win a series of matches. We have young players, others that haven’t played the Coupe d’Europe for a long time. There are not calculations to do: we have to perform well during all the matches.