All smiles, Yoan Koré throws his jersey to the Charléty audience.
The 19-year-old defender, who entered on the hour mark in an unusual left-back position, played the saviors for his team this Saturday.
His header from an Ilan Kebbal corner allowed Paris FC to snatch a draw in the 94th minute against Pau (1-1).
Like last Saturday in Amiens with Adama Camara's equalizer in the 96th minute (1-1), the Parisian team scored at the twilight of added time.
But unlike in Picardy, where the draw was only the just reward for the good performance achieved by the PFC, the one against the Palois only keeps up appearances.
Because we must be clear: Paris FC undoubtedly delivered their worst match of the season on a technical level.
“Since I have coached this team, I have never seen him play like that and be put in so much difficulty by a team,” admits coach Stéphane Gilli.
The credit goes to Pau.
They may be frustrated with this draw.
We had a non-match.
From the start, I felt that nothing was wrong.
We were soft, slow in transmissions, out of time, we had no legs.
The only positive point and it is the only one, is that we showed that we never give up with this equalizer in the 94th minute.
But as much as the draw in Amiens was a lesser evil and frustrated me, this evening it is almost miraculous.
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During the match, Paris FC was indeed moved in great ways by a Pau team with a strong coloring of ex-Parisians (Boutaïb, Chahiri, Boli and Kanté).
Before Koré's equalizer, Timothée Kolodziejczak found the post (75th) and Florian Pannafit saw his shot with a rebound diverted by Kamara (83rd).
And that’s all…
But this match confirmed two trends.
The first is that Paris FC is going through a bad patch with four games in a row without a win (3 points out of 12) which have for the moment delayed its ambitions to return to the Top 5. The second is that he still has just as much difficulty expressing himself on his cursed Charléty lawn.
Since its return at the beginning of October after being exiled for four matches at Troyes, Paris FC has a record of 3 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats (i.e. 12 points out of 27).
Obviously prohibitive to hope to play leading roles.
An impasse on the Charléty lawn issue
And we're going to repeat ourselves again.
Paris FC is playing in unworthy conditions for an L2 team.
The heavy rain had not necessarily improved the state of the lawn, which was still in dire straits.
“Abominable”, in the words of Pau coach Nicolas Usaï.
On this issue, there is still an impasse.
If meetings have multiplied between Paris FC, the Paris town hall and the management of the Charléty stadium, no agreement could be found.
Paris FC advocated a total change of the pitch or a partial re-tackle.
But the municipality just opted for some work.
The result is expected on March 3 when Saint-Étienne visits.
An improvement is hoped for because playing in such conditions is disorderly, with an inevitably disastrous image for the city and the club.
“I have criticized this pitch a lot but this evening, it had nothing to do with our non-match,” says Stéphane Gilli.
That's not an excuse.
I'm disappointed.
During the week, I had felt some warning signs during the sessions on Wednesday and Friday.
Some players told me they were a little tired.
So I am primarily responsible.
I should have made other choices.
Now we have to get back on our feet quickly.
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Still 9th, 3 points behind 5th (Caen), Paris FC will travel twice in a row (Concarneau and QRM).
Match sheet
PARIS FC - PAU: 1-1 (0-0).
Spectators: 3,429
Referee: Mr. Lesage.
Goals.
Paris FC: Koré (90th + 4);
Pau: Bassouamina (53rd).
Warnings.
Paris FC: Camara (67th);
Pau: Beusnard (58th)
Paris FC: Nkambadio - Dabila, Mbow, Kolodziejczak, Ollila (Koré, 71st) - Mandouki (cap.), Camara (Chergui, 71st) - Gory, Kebbal, Lukembila (Pannafit, 71st) - Dicko (Lopez, 61st).
Enter.
: Gilli.