Olivier Echouafni: 'Very happy to join this great institution'

Olivier, how does it feel to be the new coach of the Paris Saint-Germain Women’s team?
“I am very happy to join Paris Saint-Germain, very happy to join this great institution. I would like to thank everyone that thought of me for this position, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Antero Henrique and Bruno Cheyrou. They worked hard to make this happen. I had a great experience in the women’s game with the national team and now it continues here with Paris. I’m very proud to be joining Paris Saint-Germain and to have the opportunity to work with this group of players.”

What are your objectives?
“They are very clear and very simple: continue getting closer to the best teams, starting with Olympique Lyonnais and their talented squad. We also have a lot of quality players here at PSG and some of them are right up there with the best in Europe. We will be right up there. Paris Saint-Germain should have the best possible results and be one of the leading clubs in the game.”

Did you watch the Coupe de France final?
“I watched it very closely. It was very long! It had great intensity between two very evenly matched sides. This time, the result went Paris’ way. The girls really gave it everything to win this Coupe de France.”

Bernard Mendy was on the bench that night… now you will be working with him…
“I have known Bernard for a number of years now. We used to be opponents on the pitch a long time ago. Things are going very well with him. He ended his playing career recently and is still learning the ropes of coaching and has gained a lot of experience over the last six months. We will work together, with ambition and big goals, because we are Paris Saint-Germain.”

The club has brought through a number of players from the academy recently. Are you counting on them?
“The players here have a great potential. I know a few of them from the France national team. I’m very happy to be working with them here. We have a great project here and I aim to use take advantage of the youth academy. When you have talented young players, you have to use them.”

The team is back in the Women’s Champions League next season…
“Every coach wants to be a part of the big competitions and, above all, win them! The aim is to play well and go a long way in all our competitions. We will give them all everything because we are obliged to always be in top form.”

The season starts with a pre-season tour of the USA and the International Champions Cup 2018…
“We will be in pre-season training. The number one objective will be to get to know each other as well as possible. Of course there are the France internationals, but also others that will come and play for us. We will analyse our strengths and our weaknesses and try and improve. Training camps, and this one in America are for that. We will have some great matches to play and it’s a good chance to measure where we’re at.”