OM-Newcastle (2-1): Coach's reaction

Roberto De Zerbi: ‘Players aren't apricots.’

I would like to dedicate this victory to a child from Foggia who died. I would like to dedicate this success to his family. I have a photo of him wearing an OM shirt, I have it with me and it has brought me luck.

The match

Apart from the first ten minutes when we were in the clouds, we played a good match. We had a lot of chances. We didn't suffer much and we played a good match. I'm happy, happy for the players, Bakola, Vermeeren, Weah, Rulli... They played a good match.

Darryl Bakola

I liked him a lot, even in the first half when he missed a few passes. I liked his courage. Players need to play to mature. They're not apricots that need to stay on the tree to ripen. We had to take that risk. The stadium is generous to young players from the training centre. I preferred him to Gomes because of his physique. That could be an important weapon. I asked him to play as if he were playing with his friends.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

I was very calm and relaxed at half-time. I told them to keep playing like that and we would win. I felt something positive. I saw him in good form in the first half. He has nothing to prove. His only flaw is that he's 37 years old. I hope he can play for another 10 years because he's a truly great champion.

OM's first half

We had chances in the first half but didn't score. We were close to scoring. We had the desire to attack, the spirit, but we needed to adjust two or three things. I asked Weah to dribble more, and Bakola too, to provoke... There wasn't much else we could do, except score, even if that's a lot to ask.

A match that makes you grow

We have six points in the Champions League, we deserved a little more. In the league too, we are second behind PSG. We have to be demanding in terms of the quality of our play, and we can do better in that respect. We're competitive in both competitions, and on top of that, we have injured players. With so many injuries, our competitors aren't getting the same results.

Igor Paixao's match

He had to make a lot of sacrifices because Newcastle never played in a 5-4-1 formation. That surprised us. Someone had to take on Murphy. We adjusted things. Paixão does a different job to Greenwood. He also played well in Nice.

Benjamin Pavard

He had a great game, just like in Nice. It was even better tonight. Like Weah, we saw the real Weah tonight. We need Pavard like that and I hope he continues.

Success

It's important for morale and self-esteem. We mustn't have any regrets. We can win the last three games. We couldn't go home tonight with any regrets. Now we have to prepare for Toulouse. It will be difficult, as TFC concede few goals. We have to forget tonight and prepare for Toulouse. There will be changes in the team.

The choice of Darryl Bakola

There are things I feel. I trust my instincts. I felt that it was the right moment. Putting him in the team shows that I have courage in other areas. This match needed Bakola's characteristics more than O'Riley, Gomes or Greenwood. If we had lost tonight, we would have lost with Bakola, who did the right things.