This Tuesday at 9pm (CET) Paris Saint-Germain (1st in Ligue 1) will face AS Monaco (8th) at the Stade Louis II in the first leg of the 2025-2026 Champions League play-off (second leg on Wednesday, February 25). In a press conference, Monaco coach Sébastien Pocognoli spoke about this match and their Parisian opponent.
Pocognoli: “We’ll do everything we can to have any hope of qualifying.”
Any news on Lamine Camara and Maghnes Akliouche?
Maghnes is doubtful; he’ll be tested today and at training tomorrow morning. Lamine too. Ansu Fati also needs to be tested. We have three players who are doubtful. Ansu took a knock, we’ll have to see, and Lamine as well. We’ll see about tomorrow.
Is this double-header your biggest challenge as a coach?
No, I think my biggest challenge is simply to have a successful season, and tomorrow’s match is part of that objective. There’s no extra pressure or expectation surrounding this match. It’s the Champions League, and PSG, the defending champions, are eager to confirm their form and defend their title. We’re the underdogs; we have to accept it as it is and do everything we can to have any hope of qualifying.
Pocognoli: “The most important thing is the game.”
The aim is to avoid jeopardizing our chances for the return leg?
I think the first leg at home gives us a psychological advantage… there’s a history in the Champions League where we take a step forward in the first leg at home, and the return leg doesn’t go as planned. We’re going to play in front of our fans and have a great Champions League night. One bad player doesn’t eliminate our chances of qualifying. But, of course, it’s better to put ourselves in the best possible conditions. It’s up to us to give ourselves a chance.
How did you feel about Dembélé’s criticism of the team? Is it a good thing before facing you?
What’s happening at PSG doesn’t worry me too much, off-field. The most important thing is the game, controlling their great qualities. We’re in a different competition; they’re the defending champions, they’ll want to defend their title and play with heart. What happened in Rennes has no connection to our match.
Pocognoli: “That’s what makes a system good or not.”
You have several possible systems; will you play a more defensive game in the first leg after the ambitious style of play in Madrid?
We try to play our game in every match, regardless of the system. The big difference in Madrid was the mindset. That’s what makes a system good or not. From the moment I arrived, I said that we have the option to change. Even more so if all the players are available. We’ll see tomorrow, with the doubtful players.
Pocognoli: “PSG will have many more great seasons.”
Do PSG’s performances give you the impression that they could win the title again this season?
They have a lot of individual and collective quality. They have performed well and they still do. But maintaining consistency over two years with consistently high-level performances is difficult; everyone has their ups and downs. But when Paris has a poor performance, it has different repercussions than at other clubs. That’s life for big clubs, for Champions League winners. But PSG will have many more great seasons; they have great players, a great coach who knows how to win titles.
I think we have 90 minutes to play twice, and the context will be different from the league. If we can reach the level we’ve shown in some matches, we have a chance. We have to believe, otherwise there’s no point in playing. The players want to create a good evening.
Do you like the underdog role? What are the keys to troubling PSG?
The underdog role applies to any team against PSG; they’re the defending champions. I think the two teams know each other well, so it will be interesting to see the mental aspect. We’re in the Champions League; we could have played that role against other teams. In the league, it’s often the opposite. We need to play with that, to play freely.
