By winning on the Parc des Princes lawn against PSG (0-1), Paris FC signed much more than a simple qualification for the round of 16 of the Coupe de France. The capital club achieved a major feat, undoubtedly one of the most resounding in its recent history, by eliminating the double title holder at home. Faced with a Parisian team that was superior on paper and crowned with a Champions Trophy won a few days earlier against OM, Stéphane Gilli’s men delivered a performance of rare maturity, combining defensive rigor, collective solidarity and composure in key moments. “I told them that I was proud of what they had done, of what they had shown, but that I couldn’t be happy as a competitor, because there was a defeat (in Ligue 1, eight days earlier, editor’s note), to be completely honest, often in these matches, the players motivate themselves when we play PSG and big teams like that. But on the other hand, we used the first match, we made a lot of videos, we gave feedback on things that we had analyzed and which had not worked very well, in relation to loss of balls, in relation to the lack of technical accuracy. So this evening, I told them that I was proud and happy with the result, with what they showed, with this team, with these values», affirmed the French coach at a press conference. This benchmark victory gives a whole new dimension to the PFC season and reinforces the idea of a group capable of competing in major events.
On a tactical level, Paris FC executed their game plan perfectly. Aligned in a compact 5-4-1, the visitors agreed to endure, but without ever breaking. The lines remained tight, the corridors well closed and the spaces in the axis reduced to a minimum, forcing PSG to increase the number of crosses and long shots. “In playing these two matches against PSG, even if we were in difficulty because we know that in collective control from time to time, it is difficult, but that these matches will serve us for confidence to see when everyone works, when everyone is involved, we are capable of doing great things, that’s it. I think that at the start of the season, we overperformed a little because there was Ilan, for example, who scored a lot of goals and some great goals. The team was perhaps in overdrive. At the end of the first part of the season, I found that it was not our level», concluded Gilli. The collective defensive work, from the pistons to the central players, was remarkable, as was the discipline displayed in the retreats and the occasional pressing to hamper the Parisian recovery. Behind this block, Nkambadio embodied serenity, multiplying decisive interventions to keep his team afloat and giving the PFC the right to believe until the end in a stunning scenario.
The group wants to believe it
Offensively, Paris FC did not seek to reveal itself unnecessarily, but was able to demonstrate chilling realism when the opportunity presented itself. On one of his rare transitions, perfectly executed after a high recovery, Kebbal was able to fix and delay before finding Ikoné behind the Parisian defense. The former player trained at PSG then did not tremble to conclude and give his team the advantage, wonderfully symbolizing the PFC’s ability to exploit the slightest flaw. This efficiency, combined with intelligent management of weak times, allowed the Parisian club to resist the final pressure and bring down a giant: “Frankly, we’re very happy, we knew how to defend well, it’s one of the biggest teams in Europe. We’re happy to come away with the victory, it feels good and I hope it will launch us into the championship too. A derby won while being trained at PSG? I’m super happy with my goal, I was able to score where I was trained. Only happiness, only pleasure! I hope this is not the last and that I will continue to move forward», Detailed the hero Jonathan Ikoné. With a transfer window that promises to be eventful, Paris FC has what it takes to bounce back quickly and move on.
Beyond qualification, this victory could serve as a real foundation for the rest of the Paris FC season. “It’s an achievement! It was a very difficult match, in matches like that we all have to run a lot. They had a lot of chances, we had a great goalkeeper. We took the plunge when it was necessary. We had a little success but in matches against these teams, you need a little. I am very happy with the qualification. Against these kinds of teams, we can go for them, but those who do so take 3, 4 or 5. They have world-class players. We knew we were going to suffer but we knew there were going to be spaces, especially in the second half. We knew we were going to have two or three chances», Said Ilan Kebbal in the mixed zone. By dominating PSG in such a demanding context, the PFC offers itself a strong collective reference, capable of strengthening the group’s confidence and legitimizing its ambitions. This success proves that Stéphane Gilli’s team can compete with much more armed opponents, provided they respect their tactical framework and their playing identity. From now on, the challenge will be to capitalize on this feat to make it a lever for sustainable progression, both in the Coupe de France and in the championship, where this performance could act as a powerful catalyst.
