Only one league match played in five weeks since December 21 and three that will follow in 11 days (Dunkirk this Friday, Auxerre Tuesday and AC Ajaccio on February 7)… At the start of the year, the Paris FC calendar , upset by the postponements because of the Covid (Dunkirk and Auxerre), is totally disjointed. We also saw during the only match played by the Parisian team against Le Havre (2-2) at Le Mans on January 17, that the lack of rhythm and competition had been detrimental physically in the 2nd period. Especially since 7 players in the group came out of the Covid. “We were affected, of course, a little more than the average, but like everyone else, this is no excuse, believes Thierry Laurey. On this side, things are better. »
After the friendly match (lost 4-3) last Saturday at Orly against Niort (L2) which “above all made it possible to give everyone playing time”, Paris FC will therefore have to follow up with two late matches, Dunkirk (20th day) and Auxerre (22nd day). “We haven’t played for several weeks and we’ve been asked to play three games in a short time, continues Laurey. It’s a bit complicated, you have to manage the risk of injury. But we are rather happy to continue. We’re not going to complain. As I had pointed out, reprogramming had to take recovery times into account. There, we are going to play, on a Friday, a Tuesday and then a Monday. It’s not like we’re playing again on Saturday next week. These matches, we have to play them, we are not going to wait until May. So it’s not disturbing. »
The Paris FC coach, on the other hand, believes that “it’s more disturbing to have to move”. After the sanctions of December 28 and the suspension of Charléty for five games, the higher commission of appeal of the FFF will only meet on Thursday February 3. Even if the penalty is reduced, it is therefore likely that the receptions of AC Ajaccio (February 7) and Quevilly RM (February 12) will also take place at the MMArena in Le Mans. “It’s predictable for us not to play at home, recognizes Laurey. When you have to move constantly, it creates fatigue that would normally not be necessary. »
Laurey does not “want to speculate”
Still 4th even without playing, Paris FC has the opportunity to get closer to Toulouse and AC Ajaccio, with these two games late. This Friday in Dunkirk, he will find many players who have passed through the club in recent years: Yohou, Tchokounté, Kerrouche, Kikonda… “With Sam (Yohou), Malik (Tchokounté) and Redouane (Kerrouche), we discovered L2 together, remembers Julien Lopez. They are friends, we went on vacation together with Sam. But on the pitch, there will be no more friends. We were already able to bicker in training, so in matches and as opponents, it promises (smile)… ”
Laurey hopes that his team will “be up to the task athletically against a tough team against which Sochaux has just broken its teeth”. “I don’t look at the standings, there’s no point in speculating, you have to wait until everyone has played their matches late to have a more objective view of the situation,” concludes the Paris FC coach. Barely returned from Cameroon where he has just been eliminated from the CAN with Guinea, Morgan Guilavogui joins the group. Ousmane Kanté, the other Guinean international, was injured (ankle) during the CAN. Lamine Gueye, loaned by Metz (L1) Tuesday is not qualified for Dunkirk and Auxerre, because it is a late match.
Match sheet
DUNKIRK – PARIS FC, Friday (7 p.m.), Tribute stadium. Referee: Mr. Rainville.
Paris F.C. : Demarconnay – Chergui, Bernauer (cap.), Camara, Hadjam, Hanin – Siby, Iglésias, Demoncy – Gory, Laura. Rempl. Filipovic (left), Nkambadio (left), Campanini, Gueho, Caddy, Lopez, Alfarela, Guilavogui. Entr. : Laurey.
Absent: Name (CAN), Gueye (not qualified), Kanté, Diakité, Koré, Mandouki, Diaby Fadiga (injured), Arab, Tattevin (choice).