Paris FC and Laval, who face each other this Tuesday evening in Mayenne for the 21st day of Ligue 2, experienced mixed fortunes this weekend in the round of 16 Coupe de France.
If the Laval residents achieved one of the feats by winning in Nantes (0-1), the capital club disappointed by losing to Valenciennes (2-1), bottom of L2 with no success at home (4 draws and 6 defeats).
“This setback has a bitter taste,” admits coach Stéphane Gilli.
We want to win all the matches but with our injuries and the round of 16 taking place on the first Wednesday in February it would have been complicated... The cup is over, and it's a disappointment for us, the club and the supporters .
Now we will focus on the championship and try to have a second half of the season like we finished the first.
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After a catastrophic start (7 points in 10 matches), Paris FC achieved the best record since the 11th day with 23 points taken out of 30 possible.
A performance which allows the Parisians (8th) to find themselves just one length behind the last place for the L1 promotion play-offs held by Pau (5th).
🔜 We are already looking at tomorrow's meeting against @stadelavallois 🙌
🔵⚪️ #CertifiedParis pic.twitter.com/FJFb5WllUF
— Paris FC (@ParisFC) January 22, 2024
Laval (4th) is 5 points away.
This confrontation is therefore a pivotal match for the rest of the season.
“I don’t want to talk about a meeting between direct competitors,” cuts the Parisian coach.
It is through play and work that we will perform well and that we will be able to look upwards after a complicated start to the season.
The objectives have not changed during the truce.
We must first take the 40-42 points necessary for maintenance as quickly as possible and then finish as high as possible.
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Revelation of the season after having been leader for several days, Laval marked time in the championship by recording a series of 5 matches without a victory (3 draws and 2 defeats).
For this trip to the Francis-Le-Basser stadium before the reception this Saturday of Dunkirk (19th) at the Charléty stadium, the PFC will be deprived of Ayoub Jabbari (groin), Samir Chergui, Paul Lasne, Andy Pembélé and Julien Lopez (convalescence).
“Laval is one of the most successful teams on set pieces,” announces Stéphane Gilli.
We will have to be vigilant and develop our game a little more accurately in the areas of truth.
If we take 4 points in the week, it will be good and if we take 6, it will be very good.
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