Welcome to Louisville, Kentucky, the birthplace of Mohamed Ali and home to a famous fried chicken restaurant chain.
It is here, in this city of 600,000 inhabitants, located in the heart of the American east, some 500 km south of Chicago, that the PSG players have been packing their bags since Sunday evening for a preseason training camp. one week.
Twenty-five members of the workforce were summoned by the staff of Didier Ollé-Nicolle, the Parisian coach, including Canadian Olympic champions Ashley Lawrence and Jordyn Huitema.
This is also the case for Sweden's Amande Ilestedt, silver medalist in Tokyo and PSG's flagship summer rookie in central defense. "I'm delighted to be there with the team, to be able to train," she explains at the club's microphone, in the Kentucky rain. I played with Ramona (Bachmann) for three seasons in Sweden but all the others are new to me. It's cool to be able to meet them. We have a really good team. I can't wait to start the championship and the Champions League ”.
In the meantime, there is room for further preparation after three disappointing first results against Bordeaux (0-3), AS Rome (1-2) and Olympique Lyonnais (5-1).
After sharing a flight between New York and Louisville with Bayern Munich players, the Parisiennes took part in their first training sessions Monday and Tuesday at the local club's facilities.
The opportunity for a warm reunion with Nadia Nadim, part of PSG at the end of the season with a title of champion of France.
The Dane is now playing at Racing Louisville and hopes to find PSG in the final of the friendly tournament of the week.
But who's back ?!
What a joy to see you again @nadia_nadim 😍 pic.twitter.com/8FnaeLIPK1
- PSG Women (@PSG_Feminines) August 17, 2021
The teammates of Grace Geyoro or Marie-Antoinette Katoto start this Wednesday evening at 11 p.m. (French time) against Bayern Munich.
A meeting broadcast in France on the club's official Facebook.
The winner of the meeting will face the clash between Racing Louisville and the Chicago Red Stars.
The big and small final will take place on Saturday at 11 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. (French time).
“This tournament will oppose us to experienced and talented teams, notes Ulrich Ramé, general manager of the women, on the official website of the PSG.
This adversity will allow us to perfect our preparation before the start of the championship.
We will take advantage of this stay to meet our supporters and provide the group with non-sporting activities that will be beneficial during the season ”.
PSG has notably planned two training sessions with children from the club's various American academies. The players will also visit the museum dedicated to the legend Mohamed Ali and will attend a baseball match on Thursday.
