Leading the championship after five days, the Parisiennes travel to Lyon, 2nd with two points behind, this Sunday (2 p.m.).
Fabrice Abriel, the coach of PSG, current leader of the First League, the women’s D1, after five days, said on Saturday that the club wanted “go get the title” on the eve of the clash against its great rival Lyon.
Eliminated during the second preliminary round of the Champions League, the Parisiennes are at the top of the championship, renamed this season First League. Before this 6th day, they are two points ahead of the Lyonnaises, who were held back by Paris FC (0-0) before the international break.
“We must aim to put them at five points,” supported Saturday at a press conference Fabrice Abriel, who arrived this season at the head of PSG, who “wants to get the title” this season after the failure of the European elimination. “We are in a marathon of 22 stages (…), we must keep this dynamic”he insisted about the championship. At the end of the 22 days, play-offs (semi-final and final) will be held like last season.
Doubts about the presence of Katoto and Karchaoui
Olympique Lyonnais, the only French team competing this season in the Champions League, “is a formidable team, which dominates European football on a technical level, with individual talents and on a physical level, it will be a match with a lot of intensity”indicated the coach.
For the Dutch midfielder of PSG, Jackie Groenen, this classic which will be played at the Groupama stadium (15,000 spectators expected) is “always tense”. According to her, this shock plays out “with the same state of mind” despite the implementation of the play-offs: “It’s a match with a lot of atmosphere, a lot of madness, and it’s important for us to win at the highest level”she stressed adding that “the timing after the truce is not optimal”.
Several internationals left for ten days for selection and returned at the end of the week, like the Bleues Grace Geyoro, Thiniba Samoura or Jade Le Guilly. Eva Gaetino and Korbin Albert returned from the United States on Friday. “We got our last players back today (Saturday)” slipped the Parisian coach.
Furthermore, striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto (muscle discomfort), Elisa De Almeida (foot), Sakina Karchaoui (ankle) and Griedge Mbock were absent from the last international window. Questioned on the subject, Fabrice Abriel did not specify whether they were forfeited or fit for the match against OL, just like the club contacted by AFP.
