Last season, Paris FC had waited for the 11th day of Ligue 2 to have six points. In two games and as many convincing victories in Chambly (3-0) and Saturday against Valenciennes (1-0), he has already reached this total. Despite the injuries (Bamba, Diaby Fadiga, Hadjam), the cases of Covid (Gakpa, Abdi, Guilavogui) and the suspensions (Koffi), his collective is already promising. Absent in Chambly due to injury, central defender Ousmane Kanté (30), one of the managers of the Parisian locker room for three years, looks back on the success against Valenciennes obtained thanks to a goal from a Gaëtan Laura on fire.
How do you judge the performance of Paris FC?
OUSMANE KANTE. We are happy to confirm the victory in Chambly. Six points in two games is an ideal start to the season compared to last year when we struggled at the start. It feels good to start this way. I would insist on the fact that we have a really good group this year. We had injuries, cases of Covid and exits during the match, but those who came into play were up to the task.
Against Valenciennes, after Ndiaye's injury, you played in central defense with Franck Ellé Essouma, a reserve player who does not train with you during the week ...
This is proof of what I was saying. The youngster, we helped him, we talked to him and he had a very good comeback. It's nice to see that kind of thing. This year, with us, if a player leaves, another enters and the quality of the team does not suffer. It's really interesting.
These Covid cases were a real booster shot
What has changed the most compared to last season?
It would take a little more perspective to really compare the differences. But this year, we realize that we have a very homogeneous group where everyone pulls the others to the top. Everyone works well and wants to play. It grows at all levels. This is what has changed the most compared to last season. There is also the fact that the recruitment was almost finished when the training resumed. Apart from Florent Hanin, who integrated very well, we were all there. We were able to work at the same time and there was no difference in preparation between us.
The downside, these are the 4 cases of Covid that affected the locker room. How did you react ?
These cases were a real wake-up call for everyone. Obviously, we had entered a bit of a routine and there was no doubt an unconscious relaxation in barrier gestures. But what happened to our teammates shows us that the danger is still present, that we must be vigilant. We have to be even more careful on a daily basis when we are at the club and in our private life. The staff insisted on this. The international truce will allow us to get everyone back.
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Do you feel the additional expectations raised around Paris FC since the arrival of Bahrain as a shareholder?
Sincerely, not internally. Maybe it talks more about us away from home, but we are still Paris FC (laughs)… A club that wants to finish as high as possible. That's all. We were not given specific goals or put additional pressure. As the president said, it is already necessary to settle in the first part of the table.
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