Radoslaw Majecki: "A victory would give us a breath of fresh air in the standings" | OneFootball

After a fantastic performance against Aston Villa to lead AS Monaco into the Champions League knockout rounds, the Polish goalkeeper spoke to the press on the eve of the match against Rennes (5 p.m.).

Like the team as a while, he played a great match. He made five saves, including a decisive save against Ollie Watkins, to allow the Rouge et Blanc to maintain their lead against Aston Villa (1-0), Radoslaw Majecki is back in form at the start of the year. It is therefore to discuss his feelings and the challenge of getting back to winning ways in Ligue 1 that he appeared before the media. Extraits 🎙️

Qualifying for the next round in the Champions League

The Champions League is something special, and it’s a good thing that we won against Aston Villa, because we feel that the confidence has returned to the team with this result. Now we have to be fully focused on this Rennes game, because the objective is to come away with the three points.

On his performance against Aston Villa

I don’t know if it’s one of my best games at AS Monaco, because I always think that my best performance is in the future! But I’m happy to have been able to help the team at a time when they really needed me. And that’s what’s most important for a goalkeeper, to feel that he’s important.

The importance of the match against Rennes

At this point in the season, every game is important in the league. But it’s true that three points would give us a breath of fresh air in the standings. We are currently six points behing Olympique de Marseille, but the Ligue 1 season is still long, so we have time to make up for lost time, because everyone is losing points along the way. Despite everything, we must get back to winning ways as soon as possible!

Everyone gives 100% in every match, because we want to win them all! But the reality is that we are playing every three days, so it's not easy, especially for our young team, because many are discovering Europe and the sequence of matches.

Radoslaw MajeckiOn the current busy schedule

On the need to bounce back in Ligue 1

Everyone gives 100% in every match, because we want to win them all! But the reality is that we are playing every three days, so it’s not easy, especially for our young team, because many are discovering Europe and the sequence of matches. We will have to give everything on the pitch to hope to win tomorrow at the Stade Louis-II.

On the Monégasque defence

Mohammed (Salisu), Thilo (Kehrer) and Wilfried (Singo) are very good defenders, and I really appreciate being able to play with them. We all know each other well since last season, and I have the feeling that we work really well and that our central defense is very efficient.

Today I feel very good, and it’s thanks to the staff, my teammates and the people who work at the Club. So I have to say that I really appreciate this period in my career here at AS Monaco.

Their headers? It’s good for the team that they’re so good in the air, both defensively and offensively. When you see the number of goals they score with their heads, it’s impressive: Wilfried against Aston Villa, Thilo in Bologna, Mohammed has already scored 3-4 goals… It’s really impressive, and they are examples in their position.

His development since arriving in Monaco

I think I can become a leader in the team, because I feel confidence in me from my teammates. When I arrived here five years ago (on January 29, 2020, editor’s note), I was only 20 years old and I was leaving Poland for the first time. Nobody knew me, so it’s never easy for a young player to change environment, especially for a goalkeeper.

It’s not easy to gain confidence in this context, especially by staying on the bench. Today I feel very good, and it’s thanks to the staff, my teammates and the people who work at the Club. So I have to say that I really appreciate this period in my career here at AS Monaco.

I never lost my confidence despite the difficult moments! You know, a goalkeeper always needs to be at a high level of confidence to be able to perform, whatever the good and bad moments there are in a season, in a match.

About the coach’s trust

I’m really grateful that he has so much trust in me. He never made me feel doubtful about my role in the team, or that I had to wait for my chance. It was obvious from the beginning that I was going to have an important status, and today I feel like I can be a leader. And for that, I have to continue to develop a good connection with my defenders every day in training.

About past injuries

I never lost my confidence despite the difficult moments! You know, a goalkeeper always needs to be at a high level of confidence to be able to perform, whatever the good and bad moments there are in a season, in a match. You have to prove all the time that you deserve this number one spot.

His areas for improvement

I think I can still develop everywhere! I am 25 years old, so I still have 10, 15 years at best ahead of me, which means I can improve everywhere. I am still young for a goalkeeper, so I can improve everywhere.