Here we go (again) for new emotions! After their memorable exploits at Arsenal (4-2 on the tab) then against Wolfsburg (3-3 in the first leg, 2-0 in the return), respectively semi-finalist and finalist of the last edition, the women of Paris FC won the right to continue their adventure in the Champions League with the reception at the Charléty stadium this Wednesday of the Swedes of Haecken for the first day of the group stage. A first in the history of the Ile-de-France club. “For us it’s a new experience. We beat 2 opponents with high potential but we will discover this group phase. We want to show that we have our place in this competition, insists coach Sandrine Soubeyrand during the press conference. We feel the club in excitement. It is a privilege and an honor to commit fully to the competition so as not to have any regrets. »
“I’m living this moment to the fullest! I am delighted to be able to experience it with a group who manages to connect to the present moment, confides captain Gaëtane Thiney. We’re living in a dream so far. You have to be able to take advantage of it emotionally and move away from it in order to perform well on the field. This is what we managed to do against Arsenal and Wolfsburg. »
“The name is less flashy but we will have a formidable opponent”
During the last training session in good weather this Tuesday afternoon at the ADP center in Orly, the players worked on their technique before the first of their 6 meetings in this group D. Irresistible since the start of the season on the national scene and European, the PFC nevertheless fell from a height 10 days ago by losing very heavily at home against Lyon (1-6). “This defeat against the Lyonnaises reflects our team, spontaneous and adventurous. We were a little too much in the euphoria of our history, considers Gaëtane Thiney. At 1-1 perhaps we should have pulled back and preserved the score. Then it happens. We had a good match against an ultra-efficient team. It put our feet back on the ground. This meeting will be useful to us. In fact, we must be at 150% all the time, attacking and defending together. The response was immediate with this 6-1 success in Saint-Étienne 3 days before a Champions League match. »
This Wednesday evening, the Parisiennes will therefore host the Swedes of Haecken, a club in the suburbs of Gothenburg. A less prestigious opponent than Real Madrid and Chelsea in this group D which has just completed its championship last weekend in 2nd place behind Hammarby… for a goal! “We watched several of their matches. We expect a complicated meeting, announces Sandrine Soubeyrand. We are the Tom Thumb of the competition. Many of our players will discover this group phase. I want us to approach this match the same way as Chelsea next week. The name is less flashy but we will have a formidable opponent in front of us who participated in the Champions League last season. » “We are approaching this meeting with a lot of seriousness against disciplined and athletic players,” explains Thiney. We have to put this match on the same level as Chelsea and Real Madrid. For us, it is a prestigious meeting. I heard the girls say we’re going to have the Champion’s League balls and bibs. We must not take away this spontaneity. »
The Parisiennes, as a whole, will also have to maintain their efficiency in attack like their attacking midfielder Julie Dufour. The new international has scored in her club’s last 6 matches. “Julie integrated very quickly and she brought qualities that we didn’t have in the team but she is highlighted thanks to the work of the 9 other players on the field plus the goalkeeper, supports the Parisian coach . It’s all together that we will be able to win this first match. »
