Athletic Bilbao - OM (1-2) | The players' reactions
Maxime Lopez : «A Complete Match»
"We played a full match, a complete match. We managed to get out of their pocket in the first period. We had a penalty that we converted. Throughout the whole game, we deserved our successes even if we allowed a goal. Will we watch and learn from their goal. There are many things to learn from this game.
"If we are not motivated by a Europa League quarter-final, we should just stay in Marseille!"
Steve Mandanda : «We Cannot Relax»
"We knew it was going to be complicated but we managed the game well. Our adventure continues, it's good. We were really strong with good control and organisation behind. Through both matches, our qualification is well deserved. It is already a great achievement, but we will not settle. We are strong so we must continue and go as far as possible, that is to say at the end of this competition.
"Nobody is content, we are aware that the road is still long, there are a lot of matches. It is now that everything will be to play for. We are aware but no one should relax, we must continue our merry way and we will see what we will accomplish.
"Winning was the best way to prepare Lyon. We must recover and give everything to win against Lyon in an important Ligue 1 match. If we beat Lyon, we are good but as long as mathematically it's playable, we must remain cautious but a success Sunday would strengthen us for third place.”
Adil Rami : «I Want to Go to the End!»
"We put all the preparation, so it's positive, except for the small goal that we allowed - it’s a little unlucky. It was important. This victory saved us from exhausting us physically and mentally. We led 2-0 and were able to manage the game. When we play collectively and tightly like today, we feel less fatigued. It is very important to stay united because if we start to be individualistic, we can have ups and downs and it can be hard, because there are many matches. I hate to say that I'm tired but it's getting harder.
"We do not spit in our own soup. I feel a team with a competitive mentality, we want to win, or at least we try to win every three days because it's not easy. Now the most important thing is this Sunday.
“We want to go to the end of course! I have a dream of playing the final and winning the Europa League with OM. I would really like to go to the end."
Dimitri Payet : «A Turning Point in the Season»
“We are aware that the more the stages you advance through, the more the breaks between the games are reduced and we will have to face to bigger challenges, but to go to the end, we will have to push through it. In the Europa League as in Ligue 1, we are at a turning point of the season, games count more. The group is concerned and it shows on the pitch. Lyon also played a European Cup match, so the best way for us to have prepared for them was to win in Bilbao."
