Olivier Echouafni's team is entering a decisive week for the success of its season.
This Tuesday, March 9, the PSG players receive Sparta Prague (4 p.m.) at the Loges camp in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League.
On Saturday, they will travel to Lyon, a decisive meeting in the fight for the title in Division 1. But the coach of the Parisiennes sends the message: “We must stay focused on Prague.
"
Is it an asset to have had eight days to prepare for the week between Prague and Lyon?
OLIVIER ECHOUAFNI.
We tried to manage as well as possible the fact of not playing last week.
I have a full group.
Some girls have had the rhythm of the competition in selection.
We weren't forced to take a training break.
We also knew how to put a lot of work this week in view of the Champions League and the championship.
We worked well athletically and also tactically, the most important aspect.
Prague is a more affordable opponent than Lyon.
Is it more difficult to target the concentration of the players?
We must have the idea of being focused on Prague.
We will have two games to qualify.
The idea is to prepare well and the Prague match comes at the right time.
We can't wait to continue.
You were talking about tactics.
Is your strength this season to impose a style of play, regardless of the opponent?
PSG express newsletter
Our information on the capital club
Subscribe to the newsletterAll newsletters
It is one of our strengths.
I find that we do it well, even very well.
We had very good performances in the content, we were able to question ourselves in each match.
We know that what awaits us is not easy.
You have to be there in the right place at the right time.
It's not going to be easy but there is motivation and impatience.
How do you observe the evolution of Irene Paredes, your captain, who has never seemed so strong?
When I arrived in 2018, she was not in good physical and psychological condition.
She gradually went up the slope.
It has reached an incredible level, shows daily motivation, intensity ... It is sometimes necessary to slow down, moreover.
She's a competitor, it's really great to be able to count on her.
She is at the end of her contract, I would like her to continue with the PSG project.
Why appoint her captain?
It's a piece of cloth around the arm, but it's a symbol.
She took this leadership role to heart.
You have to be exemplary and it is on a daily basis.
She knows how to smile and say things when things are wrong.
It has that legitimacy.
She is part of the executives of this team, like Formiga.
This is the future of the club, like Diani, Endler… They are relays for a coach and a staff.
What are the identified dangers of Sparta Prague?
It is a team regularly qualified in the Champions League, still unbeaten in 7 league games.
She has a lot of Czech internationals.
We also know that this club has not played much in recent weeks.
It is an asset and a danger for us.
They will arrive at 300%, with juice, of the impact.
We will have to play on fatigue to find solutions.
It's still an aging team ...
It's still a Champions League match.
The ingredients are important: rhythm, speed, intensity, aggressiveness.
Without it, it won't happen.
If we have them, we will make the game easy.
It is an old but experienced team.
Is it difficult for a staff to convey the idea of staying focused on Prague and not thinking of Lyon?
There are steps to follow.
If we want to show up against Lyon on Saturday, we have to get a good result against Prague.
Content is something else.
It is important that the girls are focused on this message.
These 8 days that we have just spent will be decisive for the coming week.
