The post-match press conference has just ended, this Wednesday evening, before midnight at the Parc des Princes, more than an hour after the defeat of PSG against Wolfsburg (0-1) in the quarter-final first leg of the League champions. Gérard Prêcheur then asks if a German journalist is in the auditorium. A colleague raises her hand and receives messages from the Parisian coach: “The Wolfsburg coach is young and still has to learn. But applauding the expulsion of a player is not done. And for Alexandra Popp (opposing midfielder)chambering a 63-year-old coach, that is not done either ”.
The experienced technician expresses his annoyance, not to say his anger, after a frustrating scenario for his players. “The arbitration was not in our favor,” he said. I don’t like hiding behind that. Without the VAR, we win the match. It’s like that… I have to accept it. But it’s hard, especially with age. I tell myself that I worked like crazy, I put a game plan in place, I never get too bored, the game plan was great, the players respected it. I’m super happy. And I entrust my professionalism to amateurs, frankly, with age, it is difficult”.
Without wanting to “spend the night on the arbitration”, Gérard Prêcheur wonders about the two penalty situations reviewed by the VAR. On the fault suffered by his player, Sakina Karchaoui, in the opposing area: “There is no doubt”. On the whistled hand fault against Élisa De Almeida: “I have to see her again. But it seems surreal to me. In addition with a cardboard. How can an unintentional foul result in a yellow card? These are rules that I find ridiculous, in boys or in girls. We took four boxes (five). They, less. That’s what’s incredible.”
“They were afraid of us”
Passed in front of the press, Angelo Castellazzi, sports director, also wanted to highlight the impact of the evening’s decisions. ” It’s obvious. Everyone has seen the VAR (on the penalty denied to Karchaoui). There is a penalty. Then, two minutes later, we suffer one. The arbitration decisions were not clear, ”said the Italian leader. “I have to review the images, continues the midfielder Jackie Groenen. At the time, I’m sure there’s a penalty for us. On Elisa’s, the ball bounces off her arm, how can she do otherwise? It’s a strange decision. The whole game gave that impression, it’s frustrating to lose like that. »
So, now, how to get up and still believe in a qualification? “The results remain positive. There is satisfaction with the pre-game objectives. I am proud of the players, ”claims Gérard Prêcheur. “These are the vagaries of sport, breathes goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi. We will focus on the return match. Even if we don’t win tonight, we have fulfilled the objectives and (respected) the game plan put in place. Even at ten against eleven, we were present. You can walk out with your head held high. The coach, the management and the players, we want to stay on the positive side. »
What could be better than a success in Wolfsburg on March 30 to forget this feeling of injustice? “We will go for that, concludes Bouhaddi. They were afraid of us, I think. Oberdorf (German midfielder) was injured and started as a starter. It means a lot of things. They looked surprised to win. See you in a week for the revenge. That will have to be negotiated after a hot trip to Montpellier in the league and without Elisa De Almeida, suspended.