Hugo Ekitike: 'I have dreamed of scoring here'

CHRISTOPHE GALTIER

"Yes, it was a great afternoon, a good Sunday afternoon with a sell-out crowd, and with tributes too. And it was important to win, Lens are behind us, and are in a very good second position with an incredible number of points. We needed to be very professional, very focused. My players were very professional, committed, determined. Of course, as soon as we got the opener quite quickly, the match changed. But for once, the half-time break was very beneficial. And there you go, we scored five goals, each with a different scorer. From the moment that we got to 3-0 and I saw that the opposition had stepped off - which you can understand when you are there - my main obsession and all I was looking for was to see which player I need to protect and preserve. 

My main objective was of course to win. But it was also to ensure that those going to the World Cup didn't have any issues in this match. They gave their all. Everyone was fully committed. Ney had to stop in the middle of the week during training after the fatigue that came after the Juventus match. It was important for me that Kimpembe was able to participate. For Carlo Soler, who had scored, it was important to protect him too. That's also why Vitinha didn't play, because he had played a lot in these past four months. And there we go, in that sense, it was perfect."

Hugo Ekitike

"I think that we won this match in style. We worked well as a team and I think it was a great party too for the supporters today, so it's really pleasing. On a personal level, just after the assist that I made for Renato, there was my goal, and it all happened very quickly. It's nice because it means that I have been in good form and that is satisfying. I will be able to have a nice break and come back even stronger. Why not go on to score a lot more goals.

I have dreamed of scoring here, I had dreams and I was getting closer. There was the Champions League match, where I went close to scoring... And I really wanted to do so. But the others, they were also expecting me to score. And there you go, now it has happened. It happened at the time that it was meant to happen. It could have come much sooner, but the main thing is that I score and that I remain in the same good form that I am in. So I am happy. It's magnificent, I can't lie to you. It's my favourite feeling. The feeling that makes me feel the best and that's what I like as a forward. Scoring goals and scoring them here. I will sleep well tonight!"