A gala day with two matches (L2 and D1 Arkema), one after the other, a Charléty stadium which is about to boil by beating its attendance record, a prestigious opponent in full revival (3 victories in a row ), and a broadcast on BeIN (2nd time only this season) as a flagship match... The arrival of Saint-Étienne this Saturday March 2 (3 p.m.) promises to be one of the great moments of the season for Paris FC and its supporters.
But beyond the poster, there is an accounting issue for the club which has not won in L2 for 6 games (5 draws, 1 defeat) and oscillates between two waters in the ranking.
Twelfth, the Parisians are in fact at the same distance (5 points) from the 5th and last barrier for the climb (Grenoble) as from the 17th and first relegation (Dunkirk).
This match against the Greens therefore risks setting the tone for their end of the season.
“We are indeed between the two at the moment,” recognizes Stéphane Gilli.
But I don't really look at the rankings.
Whatever happens against Saint-Étienne, there will still be meetings afterwards.
What interests me is what we are going to put in place to perform.
The only thing I don't like is having regrets at the end and not playing our game. Saint-Étienne has confidence, it's a team that has gained in aggressiveness and intensity.
We will have to play a big match like in the first leg.
There are some similarities.
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Read alsoRecord attendance, black market, condition of the pitch… The Paris FC-Saint-Étienne double raises questions
On November 4, Paris FC, then relegated, came to break Saint-Étienne's series (10 games without defeat) in front of 35,563 spectators at Geoffroy-Guichard.
But in recent weeks, he has sinned offensively.
“We need to be fairer,” believes Gilli.
But the efforts are made, we speak with the players, we make a lot of individual videos.
We create opportunities but there is a lack of spontaneity and freshness among some.
Our attackers Ali (Gory), Ilan (Kebbal), Jos (Lukembila) and Nouha (Dicko) had to play through the matches.
Ju (Lopez) is barely coming back, Pierre-Yves (Hamel) hasn't been there for two months, Lamine (Diaby Fadiga) missed a month, Mo (Touré), Andy (Pembelé) and Lamine (Gueye) have been absent since long time.
I haven't been able to do any turnover, and it's detrimental because some are tired.
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“He will be keen to prove that he is a great player”
In November and December, Ilan Kebbal walked on water and often carried the team.
But it has become less impactful and decisive in recent weeks.
“He is lucid about his performances, he knows that he is a little less good at the moment,” continues Gilli.
But we ask a lot of him both offensively and defensively.
He is one of the players who runs the most.
Nouha (Dicko) has just arrived, Ilan discovers him and must find complementarity with him.
This is not the same profile as Pierre Yves (Hamel) or Lamine (Diaby Fadiga) with whom he had created connections.
Ilan is also dependent on the collective.
But he is a competitor, and I am sure that he will be present for this big match with the desire to prove that he is a great player.
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🎙" 𝑒 𝑠𝑒́𝑟𝑖𝑒"
➡ The press conference of our striker Julien Lopez before #PFCASSE.
🔵⚪ #CertifiedParis
— Paris FC (@ParisFC) March 1, 2024
If Timothée Kolodziejczak, injured as in Quevilly-Rouen, will miss his reunion with Saint-Étienne, Pierre Yves Hamel and Vincent Marchetti resumed collective training this week.
The first named, PFC's top scorer (8 goals), could appear in the group.
“We have to do everything we can to relaunch a series,” concludes Julien Lopez.
We know that Saint-Étienne is confident, but it is up to us to turn things around.
We have a solid foundation, we must make our strong points a reality.
We do this job to play this kind of match.
The stadium will be full, we haven't played often in the flagship match at 3 p.m. this season either, we have to show that we deserve it.
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Match sheet
PARIS, FC - SAINT-ETIENNE
Saturday (3 p.m.), at the Charléty stadium (Paris 13th arrondissement).
Referee: Mr. Lepayasant.
Paris FC:
Nkambadio - Dabila, Chergui, Mbow, Gaudin, - Mandouki (cap.), Camara - Gory, Kebbal, Lukembila - Dicko.
Substitutes: Riou (l.), Ollila, Koré, Doucet, Chergui, Lopez, Pannafit or Hamel.
Enter.
: Gilli.
Absent
: Marchetti (return), Kolodziejczak, Lasne, Pembelé, Jabbari, Gueye, Alakouch, Touré (injured), Colau, Filipovic (choice).