Ligue 1: “We took their pressure head on,” breathes Gastien

Pascal Gastien (coach of Clermont, beaten 1-0 by Nice): “It was a very good Nice team. And we were a step below, especially in the first half. We had to reorganize after thirty minutes. We didn't have the ball but that was due to the system I had in place. There was hope at halftime after everything that had happened. I thought we could turn things around and take at least a point, or even win, but our opponent was very powerful, in all his lines. We took their pressure head-on and against such a team it is difficult to escape. We lacked character. We were simply suffocated. I haven't seen such opposition in Ligue 1 for two years.

We're not going to say that it bodes well but our second period was rather interesting against a big team. It looked more like what we are capable of doing. We have to work on that. It gives us hope. We are approaching a crucial week in eight days. We are progressing at certain levels but we have to act a little more than in the first period.”