When asked about the double-header against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League play-offs, AS Monaco appeared particularly confident in their comments on the draw, notably pointing to the recent Ligue 1 match where the Monagasques had won, 1-0.

While PSG has still not reacted to the Champions League play-off draw, which paired them with a very familiar opponent, AS Monaco, the club from the Principality has, for its part, spoken at length about this all-French clash, a rarity in European Cup competition.

Sporting director Thiago Scuro first lamented "the fact that two French clubs are facing each other: it is not the best possible scenario, given the possibility of seeing two French teams continue the adventure in this Champions League, which is very important for the league."

But the Monaco executive then assured that this draw, rather than Newcastle, which was the other possible opponent, suited them very well.

MORE: Ligue 1 Schedules PSG, Monaco Matches Around Champions League Playoff

"We are confident, even though we are experiencing a season with ups and downs and many different emotions. Despite everything, we are still in contention in all three competitions, Ligue 1 obviously, the Champions League, and the Coupe de France, so we still have great things to do. We have quality and good players, we showed it in the last match against Paris, which we won here in Monaco, 1-0."

Coach Sebastien Pocognoli went even further, saying he was "very happy to face PSG, because we already played a very good match against them at home in the league. We will therefore have to raise our level of play again. [...] We know we perform well against big teams, whether in the league or in Europe, so I have no worries that we will be present for these two matches and that we will have the highest possible ambition."

For the record, Monaco secured its qualification for the play-offs on Wednesday night thanks to its 0-0 draw against Juventus, which allowed it to tally 10 points at the end of the league phase.

In the Champions League, ASM's record this season is two wins, two losses, and four draws. Monaco won 1-0 against Bodo/Glimt and Galatasaray, drew against Manchester City, 2-2, Tottenham, 0-0, Pafos, 2-2, and Juventus, 0-0, and lost 6-1 against Real Madrid and 4-1 against Bruges. Monaco has the worst attack of the teams still qualified, with only eight goals scored in eight matches.

Also asked about this Monaco vs. PSG Champions League clash in a press conference, young midfielder Mamadou Coulibaly, 21, struck a line relatively similar to that of his coach.

"I am not disappointed because it is still a Champions League match. That said, facing a French team, I think it's not what we were expecting the most, but we will prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain and do our best. On paper, they will likely be the favorites, but, within the Club, we know we have everything it takes to win."

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