Thomas Frank spoke to the media at Parc des Princes after our 5-3 loss against PSG in MD5 of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening.
Here's what he had to say...
You said on Tuesday the performance is always more important than the result and that is surely a performance you're very proud of…
Thomas: “Yeah, definitely. I'm pleased with the performance. It was the reaction I wanted from the players, from the team. We've been working very hard on that - the players, the staff, me, to make sure that we responded well and bounced back because that's crucial after a bad performance. Today, I saw more identity of the team I want to create, we want to create. Much more character, personality, aggressiveness. Three words you need to have in any team, no matter how you want to do, how you want to play, whatever formation, whatever. Today we saw it, that I'm pleased with. Of course, I think it was performance that was up there where we could get something out of the game, a draw or a win, so that's a little frustrating thing that we conceded some goals. Of course, one with a little bit of margin from Vitinha, not top corner but top top corner, but goals three and four, those are the ones we definitely need to avoid if we want to get something out of here. But something to build on - strikers scoring two goals, the whole team, I think, all performed well. Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, positive. We played against a decent team where they have one Ballon d'Or winner and I think the next one is playing in midfield, Vitinha - wow, what a player.”
Randal Kolo Muani – aside from his two goals – we just saw what he is capable of once he gets a bit of a run in the team and a bit of consistency under his belt...
Thomas: “Today we saw what hopefully we can expect. I think even two goals and an assist in every game is probably too much. I would love to get that every single game. As I said the whole time, he came in late with no pre-season, not top fit, had two setbacks, especially with the dead leg and then the broken jaw. Today we saw more of it. He's still not top fi, so hopefully we'll come even more.”
You mentioned Archie and Lucas - how impressive is it for two 19-year-olds to come to a place like this and play with that kind of fearlessness?
Thomas: “Very impressive. Two young players, I said from the beginning, I believe a lot in. Archie was there ready before Monaco and then unfortunately picked up the calf injury. So, we've been waiting for him to be ready again. Today he showed a lot. The way the two of them set up the first goal was also joyful to watch. The mobility, technical, ball handling, mentality, character - we liked it.”
Tell us a bit about your formation, especially the way that midfield worked…
Thomas: “The game plan to really get after PSG, go man to man, that’s much more of the identity I want, that aggressiveness, dynamic into the team. To do that against PSG who are that fluid, mobile all over the pitch, powerful in midfield, yes.”
Just sort of linked to that, the team seemed to be much more threatening in attack today. What do you put that down to?
Thomas: “I think a combination of a good response, so we had a good performance. We just performed better. I also think that it was a more open game, so when you face teams that are banged in, you probably sometimes meet a little bit different. Today was more open and we could use the mobility of Archie, Lucas, Pape and then the two strikers that worked well together.”
On the midfield again, it’s only the second time this season that Lucas, Archie and Pape have all started a game together. What made you decide that all three of them, as a very young trio, could start this game together and all work together?
Thomas: “I think the main bit was a little bit the game plan that we wanted for running midfielders. Not a winger, just because of the dynamic to follow their man-man pressure. That was one thing. Then, because I knew when we wanted them in these open spaces, they're so willing runners, that definitely helped in the spaces they created from there.”