Joy and a hint of sadness. If Marco Verratti said he was happy to find the taste of victory against Olympique de Marseille (0-3) on Sunday evening, the Italian midfielder could not help but have a thought for Presnel Kimpembe whose season is over after his Achilles tendon rupture.
How do you view this victory?
MARCO VERRATTI. It was an important match against Marseille, our historical rival. They were 5 points. We knew that to win here, you had to play a high level match. We deserved this victory, we are very happy with the result and the way. It feels good, there was a lot of joy in the locker room. There are important moments in the season, it gives us confidence. It’s a team that puts a lot of intensity, which makes a big championship.
What have you changed compared to the Coupe de France match lost on February 8 (2-1)?
We needed a player like Kylian. With plenty of space, a player like him is essential. We didn’t have that type of player there. It was a little tough. We wanted to play a different match, we watched the video. We wanted to win as many duels as possible, there were a lot of one-on-ones. We defended high with personality, with intensity.
How do you react to the serious injury of Presnel Kimpembe?
It hurts, he had worked very hard to come back. He had come back. He is an essential player for this team. He defends very well. It hurts. This victory is also for him. He asked us at half-time, we are happy to give him this little gift.
Is the championship over after this victory?
No it’s not over, there are a lot of games left, we have an advantage of 8 points, it’s a good advantage.