It was a pivotal match. The last of the year in Ligue 1 before the break which would determine the color of Paris FC’s record. But on arrival, it was a new disappointment with the heaviest defeat of the season (0-3) which only increased the concerns that had arisen in recent weeks, after a rather promising start to the championship.
After this 5th match without a victory (only 1 success in the last 9 matches), Paris FC continues to slide dangerously in the ranking (it may, in addition, be overtaken by Le Havre this Sunday). We are no longer at all in the zone of “keeping quiet” desired by leaders. Especially since the resumption on January 4, the promoted will play the derby at the Parc against PSG.
Toulouse played like at home
As expected after the club’s sanctions following the fight in Le Havre, the two kops remained silent. The Old Clan, which announced its dormancy, was absent. On the Ultras Lutetia side, several members of which received commercial stadium ban sentences, they were less than usual and did not entertain their platform, deprived of their equipment (dais, megaphones, etc.). Obviously, this was felt in the atmosphere, where the Toulouse squad played at home like its team on the field, especially in the first period.
The Jean-Bouin stadium nevertheless woke up to chants of “Kevin, Kevin…”, when Trapp, who had seen Soumaré’s penalty go wide in Le Havre, this time stopped Djibril Sidibé’s attempt (20th). But this big warning did not serve as a lesson to Paris FC, who almost missed everything. Master of the game, Toulouse took advantage of the generosity and fragility of the Parisian defense to pierce it twice (29th, 37th).
And offensively, if Ilan Kebbal had offered a thrill from the start with a 40m lob diverted by Restes (1st), it was very messy. Faced with the difficulties of his center forwards, Jean-Philippe Krasso and Willem Geubbels, very disappointing, Stéphane Gilli had innovated by placing Jonathan Ikoné at the forefront.
Arriving without preparation from Fiorentina where he was in a loft, injured after 20 minutes during his first start against Lyon on October 29, the French international also had a complicated first part of the season (146 minutes of play in 7 matches).
The recruitment in question
But the Ikoné bet, which nevertheless fought well, was not really conclusive. If Paris FC showed its best by regaining possession of the ball in the 2nd period, it did not manage to be really dangerous, displaying its recurring offensive shortcomings. And, by dint of opening up, the Parisians were punished for a lost ball. Gboho, author of a double, transformed this 8th defeat of the season (the 4th at home) into a small shipwreck (0-3, 69th). There will inevitably be questions to ask.
But this team has undoubtedly played its last match in its current configuration. Five players, the majority of whom are starters (Kebbal, Chergui, Simon, Traoré, Krasso), will in fact leave to compete in the CAN. When they return, Paris FC will certainly have changed faces with the expected transfer window recruits. But we must not make a mistake on the profile and correct the errors of summer recruitment. Maintenance is at this price.
