Wiener Neustadt (Austria) (AFP)

"Focused on victory": in the heart of a restless autumn behind the scenes, the coach Corinne Deacon believes in an interview with AFP that the Blue "are evolving" since the World-2019 and shine above all by their "results" before challenging Austria on Tuesday in qualifying for Euro-2022.

Q: Is it a relief to be back in the field after a week in isolation for a positive Covid-19 test?

A: "A relief, not really. I'm mostly happy, but I knew it wasn't going to last. I didn't want to take any risk with the group: if I had tested positive again, I wouldn't. would not have come. I'm happy to be able to do my job, quite simply. "

Q: What were your first words for your players?

A: "We had to congratulate them on the victory (against North Macedonia, 11-0, Friday), because I had only done it through the staff until then. It was also about telling them that I was was happy to find them. "

Q: Did you find them screened on the game in Austria after that particular week?

A: "It's hard to speak for them, but I think so."

Q: The Austrians, still co-leaders of the group, will perform in front of several hundred spectators, and for the first time at home in six months.

Don't they have everything to create the feat?

A: "If I were in the Austrian coach's shoes, that's what I would say. But we expect that. We are ready for that. Compared to North Macedonia, the opposition will most certainly be more fierce. But compared to the World Cup, no. We have that experience. "

Q: You prepared for this match with the desire to win it above all.

Even at the expense of the beautiful game?

A: "I'm not saying that I don't want to play well. Now, if we play well and lose, we will only remember the result. So the objective is to win and I am focused on victory. "

Q: You regularly associate group membership with results.

Are there not other essential elements, like the life of the locker room?

A: "Of course. We know very well that when a group is living well, it is always better on the pitch and that is reflected in it. Afterwards, without wanting to offend North Macedonia, it was not the match the most complicated we had to tackle. We were very serious and that is essential. "

Q: Did you explain to Lyonnaises Wendie Renard and Amel Majri why they did not have a minute of play on Friday?

A: "They didn't ask me to."

Q: But would you have made the same decision if the two matches had been switched?

A: "I made a choice against North Macedonia. It was the choice of the moment."

Q: How do you judge the progress of your team since the disappointment at the World Cup?

A: "It is evolving well. From the moment when the results are there, when we integrate as many players as possible, and new players integrate so easily into the collective project, we cannot say that we are regressing. (...) The idea is to start integrating a few young players, which we haven't really done in the past. "

Q: Noël Le Graët continues to support you.

Is the confidence of the President of the Federation what is most important for a coach?

A: "It is essential. It gives me the assurance that he will consolidate me in this position. But from the moment when we had extended (this summer) the contract in relation to the competition (he runs until after Euro-2022, Editor's note), there is not even a doubt. It is not even the question. From the moment the amendment has been signed, just that means that it validates its starting choice. If he didn't support me, I wouldn't be here by now. "

Interview by Antoine MAIGNAN

© 2020 AFP