This Tuesday, Patrice Lair took the time to answer journalists' questions before the two finals that await the Parisian team (French Cup / Champions League) each time facing the Lyon mountain. Beaten Saturday at Parc OL, Patrice Lair knows that his team is not a favorite but hopes to win these two trophies. Selected pieces.


"We knew it was going to be a tough match. I thought they still had the defeat of December in their throats, that is, trying to put a big score on us. Unfortunately, we gave them spaces and we were sanctioned entry. This is one of the few times in my career where after half an hour I say to myself: "it's good we close the house, we must take more".


That's what we did. Then we came back into the game a bit more in the second half because they lowered the flag physically. The girls were brave, they got back in the right direction for an hour, we did not take any goals. This shows some possibilities for this final. "


What was missing at Parc OL?


"We were maybe a little too ambitious, to play high. We were caught by the speed, Le Sommer mainly who opposed us but we made big mistakes placement. This morning [Tuesday], we made a video, we have seen that some girls have not made the replacement that was needed to the opposite and as they have a long game quality and especially offensive percussion, c is the best attack. (...)


After that it was better. (...) I think we would have taken two / three other goals if we had continued to play in the same layout as at the start. After that, I insisted, on the reaction of the girls, not to have lowered their head, and especially not to have the same result as last year, not to take seven. I was afraid to at one point I beat the record but hey I think I'm experienced enough to be able to close the house at some point. "


A right to the error with this match?


"Yes, that's what I told girls a little bit. I said, "this game, we have to serve a little laboratory", [where] we can compete against Olympique Lyonnais, or maybe put them in difficulty but already the first thing is not to take goals. Why did we win in December? Because we did not take goals and at one point we managed to unblock the situation. Against this team, we must not condemn ourselves quickly. There are so many talents, (...) and then a power. In addition, in defense, Wendie Renard has returned to her level. It's a little complicated, but not infeasible. "


Risk taking to reproduce in the end or a more defensive option for both finals?


"It depends after I'm in favor of the idea that you have to go forward at some point. If you think that defending, playing behind, it works once, it's a game of poker. What I want is to build results that are regular and that we are able over a whole season, over several seasons to have the results to be the first team.


And for that, we must go forward, we must not hesitate on certain things. And then you have to show your group that you are ambitious. It's a risk, it does not always work, but at least you're moving forward. (...) After, on a match like last week, it's not the same. For second place, we knew it was grated [and] I think we could try some things.


There is a trophy [at stake], it's not the same. He's going to see a little table, a trophy. If you do not want to eat it and take it, no you have to play the finals. There is a beautiful trophy, Coupe de France, there is a superb trophy, Champions League and must play them thoroughly, have no regrets. And that's especially that I try to make my group understand. But be careful, do not do anything because there unfortunately in Lyon, we did a little bit anything, because we forgot the replacement to the opposite and there some players took a little bit for their ranks because a moment to be rewarded, one also needs a balance. "


On the state of form of the group


"It's complicated because we shot a lot with the same players (...) This morning, I'm forced to take members of the staff to do a 10-10, it's annoying. In Lyon, they can make three teams. (...) »


"After the girls, they are good, they ask questions, (...) it's encouraging. We have some satisfactions anyway, we have girls who have found the French team, who will play the European Championship [and] there are things around that are important, there are strong signs with the public also because we had a lot of people in the park, the camp of the lodges is nice too and it will continue. (...) »

"But what I'm waiting for is a strong signal from the leaders, that is to say, to be better structured and perhaps to compete with Lyon in terms of salaries. (...) We need leaders, we need girls who bring this little extra to supervise young people and so on. We are building something but it's all well and good to build, and the great architects are the ones who finish their works. (...) I do not think I'm a very good architect but I like to finish the stuff. "


On the management of the match against Bordeaux between the two finals


"Bordeaux, I hope they stay in D1 (...) We have clubs like the Girondins de Bordeaux, it's important to have clubs like that, like Saint-Étienne, how many years ago that they are there Saint-Etienne? They have never invested, they play with the descent. Why do not they put a few tickets to have a nice team, that's hard to grasp. It costs almost nothing for the clubs.


"We'll see but I'll do it. I will not let go of the match, because there is something, we must respect the championship, but it's still a shame. We will not tell me that a club like the Girondins de Bordeaux in the offseason, at Christmas, they can not take two / three players, out one or two federal contracts to stay. Me, it makes me laugh, it's not normal. "


We're going to have Lille coming up, the Girondins of Bordeaux, Metz coming down again. Metz, he could not have invested a little bit? That we really have a championship that really looks like the boys. But that at the level of the spectators, at the level of the media, at the level of the stadiums, it is important. It's better to play Saint-Symphorien in Metz than to play on other grounds because that's our identity. (...) »