Caen - Paris FC: "As we are not dumber than the others, we have reviewed our copy", explains Thierry Laurey

Seven points out of nine and a qualification for the Coupe de France at Sedan acquired with a reduced team. For a month, Paris FC has raised the bar after its plummet in September. The Parisian club remains in ambush of the Top 5, a rank more in line with its ambitions. “We had a dip that really hurt us. We have picked up the thread of history and I hope we can continue to move forward, ”emphasizes Thierry Laurey. If he declared in August that "if we do not play the game, we will end up getting bored," the former Strasbourg coach has become pragmatic. He built a much more defensive team, much less flamboyant offensively.

At the accounting level, the recipe works.

“Autumn-winter is a period where you have to manage,” he explains.

In the first matches, we were pleasant, afterwards we were very pleasant but the results did not follow.

So as we are not dumber than the others, we said to ourselves that we should perhaps review our copy a little.

We made a less technical team, but more solid mentally and physically.

There are things that have improved in performance and mood.

I find that we are much more regular.

We have fewer opportunities, that's clear.

But we are more coherent, more homogeneous and that allows us to take points or to qualify for the Coupe de France. ”

Under Orelsan's eyes

Before the winter break, Paris FC will face four opponents from the second half of the table: Caen (12th), Bastia (18th), Valenciennes (17th) and Amiens (19th). Eliminated in the Coupe de France by a N3n Dinan Léhon (1-1, 4-1 tab), weighed down by a negative spiral in Ligue 2 (a victory over the last twelve games) and in search of success at Ornano since at the end of August, Caen saw a mini-crisis. But on the side of Paris FC, we are wary of his revolt. “When I saw that they had been eliminated in the Coupe de France, I immediately thought of us, recognizes Laurey. I would have preferred to play them after they qualified for the Cup. When you get knocked out by an N3, it can take a bit of breath and that makes sense. They can do a streak at some point, I'm sure. They need a click match and I hope it won't be us.They still have very good equipment, with a coach and experienced players, experienced in high-level matches, with some who have played in L1 recently. At the offensive level I know Da Costa and Chahiri well, whom I had in Strasbourg. "

Laurey incorporates Alamami Gory, holder in the Coupe de France, now well recovered from his dislocated shoulder, contracted during his first match with the PFC on September 18 at Sochaux. "For me, who am from Le Havre, it will be a real derby," Gory smiles. From very young to professionals, the matches against Caen have always been a bit of a war. There is always a little hate when I play against them. It remains a great team despite their bad patch, which should not be taken lightly. “On the Caen side, Ali Abdi, top scorer of the PFC (9 goals) last season, will miss the reunion with his former teammates. The Tunisian international is suspended. The day after the release of his new album, the singer Orelsan, who is from Caen, will be present at the Ornano stadium where he will give a signing session. Friday,10,000 tickets had been sold for the match.

Match sheet

CAEN - PARIS FC,

Saturday (19 hours), Ornano stadium.

Referee: M. Bollengier.

Caen:

Riou - Cissé, Rivierez, Fouda, Vandermersch - Deminguet, Wadja, Lepenant - Chahiri, Mendy, Nuno Da Costa.

Entr.

: Mill.

Paris FC:

Demarconnay - Bernauer, Chergui, Kanté (cap.), Hanin - Siby, Name, Diakité - Lopez, Caddy, Guilavogui.

Repl: Filipovic, Hadjam, Camara, Demoncy, Laura, Gory, Alfarela.

Entr.

: Laurey.

Absent:

Bamba (recovery), Campanini, Arab, Mandouki, Ndiaye (injured), Diaby Fadiga, Tattevin (choice).