Marie-Antoinette Katoto: "I couldn't wait to come back"
With Les Parisiennes set to welcome Lille to Campus PSG at 21:00 CET this evening in their return to D1 Arkema action, the Paris Saint-Germain striker sat down for an interview with the club’s media.
Marie, WHAT WAS STEPPING INTO CAMPUS PSG LIKE FOR YOU?
"It was great! It's an amazing place, and we're really happy to be here. I made my first visit here with a few other players back in December, and it was already wonderful then, but we officially moved in on 3rd January. We're really happy to be working here, and we're gradually going to get our bearings."
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU AS PLAYERS?
"Moving into the Camp des Loges was already a big step up, but here at the Campus, everything is big and amazing, and that proves that the club is growing and putting a lot of effort into its women's team. That's great for women's football, and we want to keep growing."
YOU CAME THROUGH THE ACADEMY HERE, AND THE ENTIRE PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN ACADEMY structure HAS ALSO MOVED ONTO THE CAMPUS. THAT MUST MAKE YOU PROUD, MUSN'T IT?
"Of course. I've seen the club grow, and being here today is special. I hope to be there for our academy girls and to support them so that everyone can grow together. We're all gathered here, and that's amazing."
COMING BACK TO YOU PERSONALLY, HOW DO YOU FEEL?
"I'm doing a lot better! I'm gradually getting my rhythm and my bearings back. The end of 2023 was good for me, and now, everything is there for me to keep improving. I felt as though people at the club were waiting for me to come back, which was a real source of motivation. I'm really happy, and I'm still ready to give everything for Paris Saint-Germain."
HOW DID YOU FIND THAT EXTENDED PERIOD ON THE SIDELINES?
"It was tough. There were some really difficult spells, but I'm thankful to the club's medical staff because I was really well looked after. They helped me a lot and always supported me. I felt like I had a lot of people around me, and I still feel that way now. We took things one step at a time, and without them, it would've been really tough, so I'm happy to be back."
TELL US ABOUT YOUR RETURN TO THE PITCH...
"It went by quickly because you need to be ready straight away when you step onto the pitch, both physically and mentally, but I soon felt comfortable again. Everyone was happy to see me and gave me a warm welcome. I couldn't wait to come back, and now, I have."
WHAT HAVE YOU MADE OF YOUR PERFORMANCES SINCE YOUR RETURN?
"I'm happy with them, as I wasn't expecting to score so much at the end of last year. I was aiming to get my rhythm back first and foremost, and I told myself that the goals would come back later on, so I wasn't particularly in a hurry to score. I naturally doubted myself a little bit, but I'm happy. I've done well, but I need to do more and to be both patient and demanding with myself."
THERE ARE SOME BIG GAMES COMING UP IN JANUARY...
"It'll be a good indicator for us to see where we're at. We've got some tasty games coming up, and on a more personal level, I'll be able to gauge where I'm at on the pitch in January. In that sense, we'll need to be more demanding than patient because we won't have much of a choice. We'll need to win those games, be it in the league or in the Champions League."