Biereth and Kehrer's reactions after the victory against AJ Auxerre | OneFootball

Delighted to have led AS Monaco to victory against Auxerre (4-2), the Danish striker and the German defender, both scorers, stopped in the mixed zone to discuss the scenario of the match.

A stunning match! With their backs to the wall at half-time against a tenacious AJ Auxerre team, the Rouge et Blanc showed character to pick up three points at the Stade Louis-II (4-2). It was a spectacular performance that includded a hat-trick from Mika Biereth, who expressed his joy to the media after the final whistle, just like Thilo Kehrer, who scored the other goal. 🎙️

Good evening Mika. Have you ever scored three goals in the same match?

Never in eight minutes (smiles)! But yes, I had already scored a hat-trick in Austria with Sturm Graz against Salzburg. It’s my first in Ligue 1, so I’m very happy. My teammates put me in an ideal position each time, and I almost only had to tap the ball into the back of the net. Everything worked out well!

I have a lot of confidence in myself and in my qualities. And then when you join a team like AS Monaco with great players who give you such good balls in good positions, you just have to concentrate on putting the ball in the back of the net.

Mika BierethOn conneting with his teammates

How do you feel after this first hat-trick with AS Monaco?

I’m really happy, because I’m a striker and that’s what I like to do, score! Now we have an important match against Paris Saint-Germain that will come soon. And then a double-legged tie in the Champions League play-off against Benfica, so I’m already looking ahead to our next matches.

Did you expect to have such an exceptional half?

I have a lot of confidence in myself and in my qualities. And then when you join a team like AS Monaco with great players who give you such good balls in good positions, you just have to concentrate on putting the ball in the back of the net.

Do you think you can keep up this pace?

I will do my best, even if I think today was a very good day for me (smile)! I will especially try to be as consistent as possible and do my best for the next match that awaits us against Paris on Friday.

On the fourth goal, he even showed a sense of being super collective by letting me have the ball, given that I was well placed. So I have to thank him for that! Everyone saw that he was not ancilliary to the fact that I scored a hat-trick. He really made a great appearance, put in very good work, and I am very grateful that he gave me two assists.

Mika BierethOn the play of Breel Embolo

How is it playing alongside Breel Embolo?

I have already played in this system with two strikers when I played for Graz. And then I admit that it is necessarily easier when you have a player like Breel next to you. He showed all his qualities by coming on, in particular by bringing the ball up and systematically watching for my runs, he is really a great player!

On the fourth goal, he even showed a sense of being super collective by letting me have the ball, given that I was well placed. So I have to thank him for that! Everyone saw that he was not ancilliary to the fact that I scored a hat-trick. He really made a great appearance, put in very good work, and I am very grateful that he gave me two assists.

Tell us about the celebrations with your teammates…

A few took the opportunity to smack me on the back of the head on my third, so it was a bit surprising at the time (smile). But that’s normal, I scored a hat-trick today, so I accept everything!

(Smiles) It’s quite wise and logical from a manager, concerning a 21-year-old player! I admit that I’m not going to pay too much attention to what is said, especially on social media. As I said, today was a very good day for me, but I now want to look forward to the next one.

Do you think you can repeat that performance against Paris?

I honestly think it will be very difficult (smiles). I always play to score goals, but I will especially try to give the best of myself, and fingers crossed that it goes well for me against PSG.

The reaction of Thilo Kehrer

Good evening Thilo. To start, you scored your 5th goal of the season tonight…

I was waiting at the back post, and when the ball fell I saw that there was a small opening. The defender was close to me, I put my left foot out and it was off to a good start (smile)! Five goals in one season, I think it’s the first time that’s happened to me.

At the start of the season, one of my goals was to be more dangerous offensively on set pieces, to have more impact and score goals, and for the moment it’s working well!

What is your feeling about the match scenario?

It was not easy to start this match after a trip away and a difficult match in the Champions League against Inter. The first minutes after such an outpouring of energy are always tough, because the fatigue is still there. The opposing team, on the contrary, arrives rested and with a week of preparation, so we had trouble finding our rhythm and intensity.

He told us things calmly but very directly and very clearly, about what was missing in the first half and what we didn't do well. He then explained what needed to be changed, and I think the team heard his message well by showing a completely different face.

In the second half, we managed to change that with the substiutues who had a good impact. In the end, we brought back a good result that gives us even more energy in our current dynamic, after two good victories against Aston Villa (1-0) and Rennes (3-2). We want to continue like this!

What did the coach tell you at half-time?

He told us things calmly but very directly and very clearly, about what was missing in the first half and what we didn’t do well. He then explained what needed to be changed, and I think the team heard his message well by showing a completely different face.

Is there a measure of revenge to be taken now against Paris Saint-Germain?

We know that it’s a big match that awaits us, especially away from home. We’re going to have to put all the ingredients together on our side, because it’s a big challenge against a big opponent who is full of confidence at the moment! But we’re going there to try something, that’s for sure.

I'm very happy for him that he scored this hat-trick and that he showed so much efficiency. He immediately knew how to integrate into the team and its style of play and find the spaces! I think his profile is perfectly suited to our way of playing.

Thilo KehrerOn Mika Biereth's hat trick

A word about Mika Biereth’s hat-trick…

I’m very happy for him that he scored this hat-trick and that he showed so much efficiency. He immediately knew how to integrate into the team and its style of play and find the spaces! I think his profile is perfectly suited to our way of playing. I’m also very happy for Caio Henrique, who made a great assist to Mika on his second goal, where he found the space well. It’s good!

How do you see the double-legged tie against Benfica?

I don’t really like talking about revenge. It will be a different context, with two games to play in a home-and-away format. We will have to be at the top of our game, focused on ourselves, on our preparation, and that already involves playing a good match against Paris Saint-Germain.