After four home matches relocated to Troyes, Paris FC will once again set foot in its favorite stadium, covered with a brand new hybrid pitch. Thanks to the free operation imagined by the club for this match and the next (against Troyes on October 28), the Parisians will be able to count on the support of several thousand supporters. For Stéphane Gilli’s team, 17th and first relegated after nine days, these assets will not be superfluous against Auxerre, dapper 3rd in the League.
“It’s nice to finally return to our stadium,” said the coach this Friday noon. We have a very beautiful lawn. We have the impression of having played nine away matches and we are going to find our audience again. We were on the move all the time, on the bus, in hotels, etc. In Troyes, against Laval, during the week, at 8:45 p.m., without many people, it looked more like a preparation match. » Thursday, Paris FC, which trains daily at Orly, organized an exceptional training session at Charléty.
“This was particularly necessary in relation to the new players, who do not know the stadium or the locker rooms and would have discovered them on the day of the match otherwise,” explained the coach – Alakouch, Mbow, Kolodziejczak, Gaudin, Lukembila, Camara, etc. . It was intended for them to visualize the pitch, take their bearings on the pitch, integrating the surrounding track and the stands. »
In the air of the 13th arrondissement, Gilli believes he detects a scent of renewal: “Even among the players who were already there last year, during training we felt a pleasure of playing at home. Without its audience, perhaps Lens would not have even played a match against Arsenal this week…” Striker Alimami Goryse is also delighted: “It’s a very good pitch, compared to last year on which was a bit tricky… And then, the return of the supporters will help us a lot, we need support. In Troyes, it was special. Everyone is looking forward to it…”
“The club’s operation is a very good thing, it will bring people,” says Gilli. I heard of 8000-9000 spectators. For our return, it’s very good. Beautiful pitch, beautiful stadium, a crowd behind us, all the conditions are there to have a good and great match. »
There remains a major opponent to master. “Auxerre is the best attack with 21 goals,” underlines Gilli, whose team tops out at 9. Offensively, it’s very strong with players together for 2-3 years, the best passer, Gautier Hein, and not bad of players from L1. There is quality, but also at home, as I recalled in the locker room this morning (Thursday). »
Thierry Laurey’s successor is convinced that Paris will present a completely different image from this Saturday. “We have a team with full confidence and another which is a little doubtful,” he says. But we still detected some weaknesses, which we worked on, as well as on the game we want to put in place. I am convinced that we will do something. It’s a big Ligue 2 match, a poster, and it often transcends the players. If we succeed, maybe it will start our season. A point is good but the objective is to take three points against Auxerre…”
