News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

Rediff.com  » Sports » We forced Real into errors, says Monaco coach

We forced Real into errors, says Monaco coach

April 07, 2004 08:19 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Monaco coach Didier Deschamps said his team's startling success against Real Madrid on Tuesday was brought about by forcing the Spanish favourites out of their comfortable stride.

Real, 4-2 up from the first leg, looked to be strolling into the Champions League semi-finals when Raul stretched the overall lead to 5-2 with a goal after 36 minutes.

But after captain Ludovic Giuly levelled on the night in first-half injury time Deschamps instructed his players to apply more pressure.

"At halftime, I told them to shake them a little bit more," said the former France captain. "We forced them into fouls."

The tactics paid off as Fernando Morientes, on loan from Real, made it 2-1 after 48 minutes and Giuly got his second on the night after 66.

That was enough to send them through on the away goals rule at 5-5, though they continued to press and hit the woodwork twice.

Defensively, Monaco were also impressive in the second half and kept their never during five tense minutes of injury time.

"I think the most important thing was to find a balance between the defence and the attack, which we failed to reach during the first leg," said Deschamps, who now faces Chelsea in the semi-finals after his former club beat Arsenal 2-1 at Highbury for a 3-2 aggregate.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024