Girard not feeling the pressure

Posted Friday, January 23, 2015 by PA

Lille coach Rene Girard is not feeling the pressure despite speculation over his long-term future with the club.

Reports in France this week suggested directors of Ligue 1's 12th-placed club had recently spoken with former Marseille coach Eric Gerets as a possible successor to Girard.

But the incumbent coach told 20minutes.fr: "I was never alerted by the directors on this subject. I heard about it in the newspapers.

"Who should I believe? The press or my directors? I believe my directors.

"There is no problem. I work, I am part of a club and I don't see why that would change just because I read it in the papers.

"Four weeks ago it was another name, and maybe there will be a new one next."

Girard will be without Michael Frey, Bakary Soumaoro and Simon Kjaer against Monaco, but striker Divock Origi returns and could be joined by playmaker Marvin Martin.

Monaco have pre-match doubts over striker Dimitar Berbatov and defender Layvin Kurzawa.

Ricardo Carvalho and Geoffrey Kondogbia are back in training after recent injuries but will not be available, with Carvalho targeting next Sunday's clash with Lyon and Kondogbia building up his fitness.

ASM go into the match fifth in the table, nine points behind leaders Lyon but five behind Paris St Germain in the third and final Champions League place.

Forward Anthony Martial told the club's official website: "The title is a difficult goal but we have to give everything to finish in the top three."

Martial's late goal in midweek, which sealed a 2-0 Coupe de France win over Evian, was only his third of the season with just one of them coming in the league.

And the highly-rated 19-year-old said: "Talent alone is not enough and you have to work harder.

"My record is not good enough. I am creating chances but I have to score more."