Paul, given the club’s sporting results this season, do you think the current crisis could have been avoided?
“I would have preferred it, yes. Given how well things are going and the team’s improvement this season, I would certainly have preferred to avoid this situation. Messieurs Bazin and Villeneuve would have too, I suspect. For my part, I got along very well with both men. We’re doing everything we can to keep the players from being adversely affected. We’re still training and working, and the fact that Sébastien Bazin and Charles Villeneuve stepped in to clear the air has also helped the players keep their minds on the job.”

Is this match a potential banana skin?
“That’s what everyone is saying. I played several times in Ajaccio, but never at this stadium. We’ve seen them play and also been advised by the reserve team coaching staff. Everyone highlighted the stadium, where the supporters are very close to the pitch. We need a very focused squad of players capable of putting all other things out of their minds and concentrating solely on the objectives we have set.”

The fact that the club is still involved in four competitions, is that a help to the team spirit and morale?
“I do think that it helps. Up until now, it’s certainly been a positive factor and has given us the luxury of setting different objectives for different competitions. Now, we want to keep going in the French Cup, and then the League Cup and then the UEFA Cup. I also think it helps the squad get along well and play. We don’t have a huge squad at our disposal, but we have players capable of stepping in to replace others. We have no other option for this second-half of the season other than count on each and every squad member. We’ll need 18 to 20 players to reach our goals this season.”

Has the current context at the club upset the payers?
“I don’t want it to become an excuse. We worked very well this week. The thing which has upset me the most is to know whether or not Peguy Luyindula can play or not. He’s suffering, he didn’t train on Saturday afternoon and I don’t know of he’ll be available on Sunday. The context at the club is annoying, but my priority remains the team and what happens on the pitch.”

Check out the entire coach’s press conference on PSG TV.


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