No respite!
Returning from Poland on the night of Thursday to Friday, after their 2-0 success against Gornik Leczna in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League, the PSG girls return to the pitch of the Georges-Lefèvre stadium in Saint-Germain-en- Laye (Yvelines) this Sunday (2:30 p.m., live on Canal +).
On the occasion of the reception of Le Havre, promoted and last, the leaders of D 1 women can win the honorary title of autumn champions.
For this, the Parisian coach Olivier Echouafni will be able to count on the return of Grace Geyoro (suspended in Poland) and Nadia Nadim (ex-positive for Covid-19).
What do you take away from the victory in Poland?
OLIVIER ECHOUAFNI.
The girls had a great state of mind.
We knew that the playing conditions were going to level the values a bit.
It has been.
We came across a solid, very athletic team.
Despite everything, we could have done better.
Considering the number of situations and chances, the score does not reflect the physiognomy of the match.
We scored two away goals, that's good, but we have to finish the work in the second leg next Wednesday.
Were you worried that fatigue was playing out on Sunday?
It will surely play out a bit.
A first Champions League match is always more energy intensive than another.
It was cold, the playing conditions were difficult and the girls didn't get much sleep.
We're coming to the end of the year, it's a difficult period.
We resumed in June, it's new.
The girls have given a lot over the past six months.
There is physical and psychological fatigue.
Some have not seen their families for six months.
But we don't complain.
The girls are keen to finish the year in the league well and to qualify for the Champions League.
I tell them:
come on, a little more effort
.
As has happened in previous seasons, are you immune to a slack?
There is no truth in football.
The most difficult match to tackle after the international break was against Paris FC, and we negotiated it very well against a great team (
Editor's note: 4-1 success last Sunday
).
The most important game is always the next one.
Between Le Havre and the return leg of the Champions League, we must end on two good notes with two victories.
If mentally, we are ready, it will do it.
Then we took a step forward at all levels since the Final 8 of the Champions League (
Editor's note: elimination against Lyon in the semi-final on August 26 in Bilbao
).
Would the title of fall champion have a special flavor?
Not at all.
I would prefer that we are “spring champion”
(laughs)
.
We just want to stay in the dynamic of victories and resume our series without conceding any goals.
Before Paris FC, we stayed in eight consecutive matches without having taken any.
It really matters to us.
It's a real challenge.
If we can be the fall defense champion…
(smile)
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You left Marie-Antoinette Katoto on the bench.
Was it for her to score her 100th goal with PSG (she is at 99) at home?
I do not enter into these considerations.
Her 100th, she will mark it, for sure.
After, when?
How? 'Or' What?
She still played a lot.
Some pains appeared.
You have to know how to handle it.
We will need it in the next matches because it is very important in our team.
She is having a remarkable season at all levels, with the club and in the France team, where she has confirmed all the good that one could think of her.
I am not surprised.
He just had to give him time to cross the thresholds.
