Women’s PSG: thinking about its future, Prêcheur wants “guarantees to build a great club”

2023-05-22 09:41:40

We had two Gérard Prêcheur this Sunday evening during the traditional press conference. The “football enthusiast”, the 60-year-old man, who did not appreciate the way his opponents played and who wonders about the spectacle offered to the public. And then the PSG coach, who congratulates OL on their title of champion of France, after their victory at the Parc des Princes (1-0). But a coach who also wonders about his future at the head of this Parisian team.

We said last week after the Cup final that we should avoid regrets. Is it still the case tonight?

GERARD PREACHER. It is the image of this whole season yes. Even more tonight. The girls had a good game, the game plan was clear and almost worked. It’s really frustrating. We wanted to resist the Lyon pressure, play towards the goal and get them high. We didn’t do it too badly. Especially in the second half. I knew that the Lyonnaises would not last longer than 60 minutes. We had chances. It almost worked… But that’s what you’re saying, we were almost there. This is the PSG of this year.

Your team still destabilized OL…

Bravo to the girls yes, really bravo. What frustrates me is not the PSG coach talking here, it’s the passion for football and women’s football, after all that I have given for 23 years to this football. I wanted to play everywhere, work on the collective, that women’s football is beautiful to see, that it attracts people. But that a team like Lyon, champion of Europe (in 2022) and of France, produce a game like that, without relaunch from the back, with direct football that relies on individualities… Frankly, I say to myself , Preacher, you worked for nothing for 23 years. You are going to leave women’s football but who will take over? That’s not how we’re going to attract crowds.

Does OL’s game surprise you?

No. This is the game that Lyon have been playing for two or three years. It is based on individualities. And there are some very good ones. It works, huh! The problem is that the athletic field and individualities still prevail today over the collective and technique. But I become the coach of PSG again: Lyon deserves its title. They haven’t made a difference in the league except against Guingamp and against us. Intrinsically, Lyon is better than us.

“I want to end my career with the will to win”

There are still promises, like Laurina Fazer or Korbin Albert…

Of course. But what I want us to do at PSG… (he cuts off). I have believed in signs for quite some time. If we concede a goal at the end of the match, it is a sanction. Terrible. I took a hit behind the head. We have to ask ourselves the question: why are we being sanctioned?

What is your assessment of the season?

There are a lot of positives. But my father always told me: in France, we prefer Poulidor to Anquetil but you have to make sure you are Anquetil. And, this time, I’m second everywhere. So of course there are positives. But I came to Paris to win. I am frustrated and disappointed.

Individuals like Katoto, Dudek or Diani missed…

I don’t want to go back to that. I have already expressed myself. Tonight the girls had a good game. Those who were there made the match. I do not mean to insult these.

You talk about quitting football. Is this your last game next week?

I don’t know. I need recovery time. I’m tired of taking bamboo shots behind the labels. PSG must provide guarantees to build a great club. Being competitive is not enough. I want to end the career with a will to win.

You have an optional year…

(He cuts) The option is lifted. But I too am wondering. I am not very young. I am no longer old enough to build. Maybe next year… There will be the return of Paulina (Dudek), Marie Antoinette (Katoto), Kadi (Diani)… We’ll have some good recruits (smile).