A derby to set off again.
The PSG women's team is making the short trip this Thursday (6.30 p.m.) to the Charléty stadium in the 13th arrondissement of the capital to face Paris FC (19th day of D1).
The opportunity to smile again, four days after the regrettable elimination in the semi-finals of the Champions League in Barcelona (1-1; 1-2).
"It's okay," smiles Olivier Echouafni.
It makes sense to have a lower morale boost.
But we must evacuate, turn the page because we have very specific objectives.
"
The first ? Take back the lead of the first division this Thursday evening. OL have a two-point lead thanks to the victories accumulated in their late matches. By winning, Paris would return to the front and lead the race before the expected "final" of the championship, in the Rhône on May 29. “Paris FC is the team we know best because we have played it four times,” notes the PSG coach. The PFC has also been affected by cases of Covid, it remains on a good dynamic (
Editor's note: four successes
). It's always complicated. The three other opponents to come apart from the PFC and OL (Le Havre, Reims, Dijon) should not worry the workforce of Echouafni.
But recovering from elimination is never easy.
Especially when it leaves regrets.
“If we talk about the content, the matches against Barcelona were not what we hoped for, blows the red and blue technician.
Managing the issue was more difficult.
There is frustration.
But that must not spoil what has been built so far.
Great victories are built in defeats.
“After a day of care and rest, the players returned to training this Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday.
Diani still absent
Saddened as much as possible by the failure of qualification, Marie-Antoinette Katoto is better.
“It is being built,” says Echouafni.
Like Sandy (Baltimore), like Perle (Morroni), like Jordyn (Huitema)… It will always require more concentration, perseverance, attention to detail.
“She should continue this Thursday.
For Kadidiatou Diani, absent from the confrontation against Barça, it will still be necessary to wait.
Hit in an ankle, the winger has not yet set her return date.
All PSG hope in form for the shock in Lyon.
Until then, Echouafni wants to continue to involve "the whole group, the young players too".
A turnover should therefore be made with two games (the PFC on Thursday, Le Havre on Sunday) also close together.
Finally, the Parisian coach also had a word for Mauricio Pochettino and the pennant team, also eliminated from the Champions League in the semi-finals: “They fell against a great team with more success on one side. that on the other, he sums up. If Paris opens the scoring, there is nothing to say. It is always difficult to play without your best elements. Kylian for them, Kadi for us… They missed. "