OM-Ajax: Press conference

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Matt O'Riley: ‘A good test’

The midfield position

I can play anywhere in midfield. I can adapt. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and I have a good relationship on and off the pitch. I like to play deep, although I can play further forward or further back.

Adapting

It's going well at the moment. Everyone has welcomed me, the staff, the players, the coach. The language is different, but in football, we speak the same language. I've already learned a lot, and it will get easier.

The match against Ajax

I feel good, it's very exciting to play in the Champions League. Ajax has a great history, it's a big challenge. We need to focus on ourselves and the rest will follow.

The atmosphere in the dressing room

It's the most important thing for a good relationship between the players and the staff. We've signed some good players. It's very exciting, there are good people in the group and it's easier to perform well as a team.

The atmosphere at home

The crowd makes the difference, we saw that against PSG. We see the crowd celebrating and that helps us to push forward, it's like having an extra player. They help us a lot.

Igor Paixão

He has a lot of qualities. He is very talented and humble. He can help us a lot, he is young, we are happy to have him with us. He proved last year that he is a top player.

Victory is imperative

We try to win every match. Our mindset must be focused on victory and performance. We must concentrate on the process of playing good football. The more we play together, the more we will improve. Tomorrow will be a good test.

The difference between OM and Celtic

I haven't been here long. But both clubs are big and passionate. It's a privilege to play in front of such a crowd. There's also pressure to win every game at Celtic. The mentality is almost the same.

Roberto De Zerbi: ‘The ambition to play with our strengths’

Good momentum in Ligue 1 to challenge Ajax

We're preparing to win the match and we'll see tomorrow. We're in a good place. We have the results and the performances. We played well against Paris, and at times against Strasbourg too. Tomorrow is our first home match in the Champions League. We'll need to play well.

The pressure of the Champions League

Of course, we prepare for matches to win them. Our team is strong but still under construction. We have the qualities to win tomorrow. Ajax are a good team, with a strong identity and strong players. We want to win at home for the standings and the supporters. We want to do well tomorrow.

More passion

The supporters are always important, especially in this stadium. The team's attitude must be good too. The start of the match against PSG was good. At home, we have to work on that aspect: the start of the match has to be good to create magic with the stadium and its atmosphere.

Igor Paixão

I don't really like that question. He's not in optimal condition. He's a strong player, he proved that in the Champions League. He's not playing at 100%, he's not 100% fit because of his injury.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores against Ajax

Yes, I think about these things, not exclusively, but I do take this aspect into account when I select my starting eleven. I don't make changes for the sake of making changes. I put out the team that I think is the best. I try to protect players who play a lot. Aubameyang is an asset to OM, he is strong, crucial to OM and a good person.

Having more players who are potential starters

It's easier to manage this year than last year because there are more matches. The players will have more opportunities to prove themselves. We also need to avoid injuries. It's easier to manage because everyone will have opportunities to play and everyone will play in the matches.

The physical condition of the squad

I hope I don't make too many mistakes. We have to manage the physical and mental aspects. Aubameyang played 45 minutes against Paris, others played 30, others 60. Aubameyang was decisive in Strasbourg because he scored. I told Gouiri not to worry about the criticism; he played a very good game in Strasbourg. He missed two chances but he fought hard and performed well. The goals will come. The No. 9 has to score, but he also works for the team, which is good. If he scores 20 goals, that's even better.

His state of mind

The new players have brought quality and freshness. The credit goes to the management, who have brought in quality. We have enthusiasm and a positive atmosphere. But at OM, we're walking on eggshells because it doesn't take much to go from enthusiasm to crisis. We should have celebrated the victory in Strasbourg even more than the one against PSG because it gave us continuity. We have to know how to live with enthusiasm, but it doesn't take much to go backwards.

OM's level in C1

OM can exist in C1. I don't know what we'll do, but I know we can be there. I like this group of players. They are strong, they are passionate. I can see in their eyes that they understand what I'm saying. Results are achieved on the pitch, and we have earned our place here. The Champions League is very tough, we must keep our feet on the ground but with the ambition to play to our strengths and qualities.

Amine Gouiri

There are No. 9s who go deep, like Vaz, there are No. 9s who do a bit of everything, like Aubameyang, and there are No. 9s who are less goal-oriented, who don't have the same goal-scoring instinct as Lewandowski, but who bring the ball up the field. These types of players are just as important. Gouiri is not enjoying the best moment of his career in terms of goals, but he got us into the Champions League and he plays well, like against PSG. He must have the strength not to listen to the critics. His coach and his teammates love him, and so do the fans. In Marseille, you have to be able to live with criticism, but he shouldn't have any problems with that.

The new players

They all wanted to come here. You can feel their desire to be here, and we mustn't try too hard to find balance. Victories are part of football, as are defeats. When we win, we have to be careful because defeat is never far away. When we lose, we mustn't listen to the critics. You have to know how to live with the ups and downs. We talk to Medhi Benatia, and when we win, we mustn't think we're stronger than we are. And when we lose, we mustn't hang our heads.

Ajax

They have quality players, top class. They have a style of play, they're aggressive. We have to prepare as much as possible for the Champions League matches. We have what it takes to hurt Ajax. We have to prepare for the match defensively and in terms of possession because we have the players to cause them problems.

They've changed over the last two years. They finished second last year and have started their season well. They have two very strong Belgian midfielders.