The Stade des Alpes where Grenoble has lost only once this season (against Clermont promoted to Ligue 1) has been an insurmountable mountain for Paris FC.
Like two years ago against Lens (1-1, 5-4 at the tabs), the Parisians therefore bowed (2-0) from the first game of the L1 accessions.
This outcome also recalls that of 2017, also in play-offs, but this time of accession to Ligue 2. Paris FC, much reduced, had lost in two games (1-0, 1-0) against Orléans, before to be drafted in L2 after the bankruptcy of SC Bastia.
Tuesday in Grenoble, the absences weighed heavily. Offensively, Paris FC, which was penalized for its failed start by a quick goal from Anani (8th), was too limited. Without his offensive dragster Gaëtan Laura and the precious, by his discounts and his back-to-goal play, Warren Caddy, René Girard's team has never succeeded in destabilizing the Grenoble defense (2nd defense in Ligue 2 this season). The coach of Paris FC was forced to launch two "ghosts" of long injuries, Lamine Diaby Fadiga (absent 6 months, 1st start of the season) then Morgan Guilavogui, who was back from four months of absence on Saturday against Chambly (3-0).
Girard also had to "tinker" during the match.
Tunisian international Ali Abdi has held three different positions (right side, left midfielder, left side) during the 90 minutes.
All this weighed on the Parisian collective, which often lacked technical accuracy and offensive edge.
Under these conditions, it was difficult to hope for better.
Caddy and Laura's absences weighed heavily
"Grenoble's victory is deserved," recognizes President Pierre Ferracci.
We made a beginner's mistake and concentrated, and we take a stupid goal very quickly.
We weren't fair enough, impactful enough.
The absences of Laura and Caddy weighed heavily.
We have lost our offensive strike force a bit.
But as I told the players, I think we belong in the top five.
We could not necessarily go further given the context.
"
Vincent Demarconnay thus postponed the deadline for a long time before losing to a counter (2-0, 87th).
At 38, the Parisian goalkeeper shows that he is playing at a very high level.
If a reconversion in a club where he has been playing for 13 years is promised to him, he will begin discussions with his leaders to determine his future.
“Twice in the top five in three seasons, the club continues to grow and we hope to come back even stronger next season.
Me, I am 38 years old but I take so much pleasure… Yes, I would like to continue.
The files of Demarconnay and those of the other players at the end of the contract (Abdi, Nomenjanahary and Martin) should be quickly dealt with by the Parisian leaders.
"We will have to further strengthen the team and improve it qualitatively"
René Girard, whom we have often seen quite annoyed on his bench during the match, wanted to play down. "There's not much to say except that we're going on vacation and it'll do us good," he jokes. Without looking for excuses, we were a little diminished to hope for better. It would have been necessary to have a little more spice and bite on the offensive plan. We take a goal on a big careless mistake which allowed Grenoble to wait for us and play against. But we had a very, very good season. There, the players have their heads in the bag but they should be proud. We must not forget that our boys are young and that many come from National. "
President Pierre Ferracci was already planning on what to do next. “Twice in three seasons in the play-offs, it's not bad. We will have to further strengthen the team and improve it qualitatively. We still lack a little stability in the team, which Troyes and Clermont, who go up, have done for 3-4 years. We have to stay the course, the Paris FC project holds up and we are credible in the leading pack. We will have to go for the first two places, stabilize in the top five and be more efficient if we redo the dams. "
