Henry: ‘Mustn’t get carried away’

New Monaco coach Thierry Henry played down the significance of the club’s point at Brugge; everyone at Paris Saint-Germain was frustrated the capital club only played for a half against Napoli.

 Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 SS. Napoli 

Thomas Tuchel (Paris Saint-Germain coach): “I have a lot of respect for this group. We knew it was going to be difficult against Liverpool and Napoli, and we’re not favourites. Everyone thinks we are, but I don’t believe that. For me, the game against Napoli is 180 minutes and this is half-time. We can still win the head to head against them. I don’t know why, but we have trouble playing in the same style for 45 minutes. We do it for 15 minutes and then we lose it, and I don’t know why. At this level, we can’t afford to lose our structure. That’s the challenge for us.”

Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain defender): “I think everybody is clear about the situation and we showed two completely different sides in the first and second half. In the first half our level was very, very low. We didn’t press them and we didn’t create chances. At half-time we got it into our heads that we needed to do better and the coach made good tactical changes. That gave us confidence.”

Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint-Germain defender): “The problem is we only played for a half. In the first half we weren’t disciplined and didn’t respect the coach’s plans. In the second half, with three at the back, we played very well. In the second half our body language was different and we’ll go to Naples looking to win.”

Carlo Ancelotti (Napoli coach): “The return game will be crucial to see who makes it to the next round, and we’ll be playing at home. With strikers like theirs, they are bound to be a slightly unbalanced side. We had an extra man in midfield, and helped by Mertens and Insigne we managed to control possession.”

>> MATCH REPORT

 Club Brugge KV 1-1 AS Monaco 

Thierry Henry (Monaco coach): “We started the game well and frustrated Brugge. Golovin played a great pass for Sylla’s goal. Then Sylla had a chance and if we’d scored that then we’d have been 2-0 up. It’s too early to say that we’re going better. Just as nobody needed to get carried away when we lost at Strasbourg, we mustn’t get carried away because we’ve taken a point away from home, even if it’s never easy in Europe. I liked the intensity of my team, the balance and the transitions going forward and in defence.”

Kamil Glik (Monaco defender): “We showed the right attitude and this was a good point against a fine side. We played very well in the first half but sat deeper in the second. We’re starting off our work with the new coach and I’m optimistic for the future.”

Andrea Raggi (Monaco defender): “We played very well in the first half and did everything the coach asked of us. I remember above all Moussa Sylla’s second chance. With a bit more experience he would have gone down after rounding the goalkeeper. It would have been a red card and the match would have been decided in our favour.”

Ivan Leko (Brugge coach): “We have played three matches in the Champions League now and in these games we have proved we can do pretty well for a team from little Belgium. We are able to take points off these top European teams – but I do think that one point so far is not enough.”

>> MATCH REPORT

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