Gérard Prêcheur: 'We will play to win'
Les Rouge et Bleu women's team coach Gérard Prêcheur spoke at a press conference on the eve of the second leg of their UEFA Women's Champions League play-offs tie with BK Häcken, at the Stade Jean Bouin on Wednesday 21 September. Excerpts.
STATE OF MIND
"I am a coach who plays to win matches and titles. At the same time, I use training sessions and matches to continue to develop the team. In each match, there is a step to climb. It would be hypocritical to try protect ourselves from possible failures by saying that we are in a transition period. We will play to win. This period will be decisive."
HÄCKEN
"We analyse our opponents. We did it with Soyaux, with Rodez. We have studied the videos and made montages. We've looked at Häcken's matches. They are a team that are evolving well. They are in the second half of their league campaign and are currently in a positive phase. We know their tactics very well and we will take that into account in our game plan, which is always influenced by the opponent's game. This adaptation is always necessary."
TRANSFERS
"I am totally satisfied with the squad's adherence to the game plan. We're making progress. We're making progress despite the fact that it is only the second week in which we have the whole squad together and training. I am satisfied with how the team is progressing. I'm happy with our transfer window. We had a late start, which a difficult task for the sporting direction, with whom we have an almost perfect understanding. The last two arrivals were very important because they are two players who have won titles. It is a plus for the squad."
ORIANE JEAN-FRANÇOIS
"It's very satisfying. She is a young player that I have the humility to admit I did not know before. I saw her and noticed her during a match with Paris FC. She had the opportunity to be here right from the start of pre-season. She is a very good signing. She is disciplined in this No.6 role and will occupy it tomorrow. Having a player like her, or like Jackie Groenen, gives Grace Geyoro a bit more freedom in attack."
THE GOALKEEPERS
"We're not going to keep four players for this position. There will probably be a loan. It's a very special position, it's the only position where we have to establish this hierarchy of first goalkeeper, second goalkeeper... Since this hierarchy exists, Sarah Bouhaddi has been recruited to be No.1 for the next few months of competition."
A clash for Les Rouge et Bleu that will be followed live in full on PSG TV Premium and on Paris Saint-Germain's official Twitch channel (subtitles only).