At the PSG training center in Bougival, Patrice Lair answered journalists' questions about the Coupe de France, the championship but also his point of view on the young French players and especially his expectations on the transfer window of January.


Journalist - A small return on the Lille match last weekend in the 1 / 32nd final of the Coupe de France.

Qualified!


Reporter - Yes, that was the main thing?

No no, I was disappointed in our first half. We did not attack the match as it should and this team pushed us very hard. She did a cup match. We had to wait half time to make some adjustments and find the opening. They [Lillies] had opportunities, and really did a good game, playing offensive. They came with great intentions in the game by playing in 4-4-2. It was not bad. After we managed to get out but we will have to be a little stronger this weekend if we do not want to know a disillusion in the league.


Journalist - And Emma Berglund, exit on injury, a priori it is the crusaders?
Yes yes it's the crusaders. 2018 does not start very well. After that I never complain about my staff. We are advancing in recruitment and I hope to have good news in the coming days.


Journalist - Exactly where are you next?
On this, it is Bruno [Cheyrou] who sees. I'm waiting for the players. I asked her players with very specific profiles, now I hope that it will happen to expand the membership a little bit because currently, it is true that I want to rely on the players of the training center but I also want players to bring a little more. Then especially continue on our goals that are to go as far as possible in the Coupe de France and finish second in the league.


Reporter - How many players would you like to see and what positions?

For me the ideal it would be two players. I would like in the offensive compartment. Have some percussion, efficiency in front. Defensively, no, I have Erika, I have Grace [Geyoro], I have little [Léa] Kergal also who works very very well, I even hesitated to put it last weekend, so no side defensive I do not worry. Defensively it is always easy enough, but it is especially to score goals that we need.


Reporter - And Emma's injury did not change your mind?

Relative to the departure of Laura Georges? No, Laura George was no longer in my plans. It's always embarrassing to lose a good player like that, because she was a good player, and at the level of the state of mind, she was super nice. It's a shame, Erika lived the same thing last season, it's like that. Then now we have to think about the future, and on the other hand, it can be an interesting opportunity for young people.


Hearts of Football - We see that Lyon is raising the stakes, with Morgan Brian for example or Amandine Henry that you too were hoping for. Does not Paris have to follow the same race?

I have leaders above me. It is they who can open the faucets, make the choices on some players. Today this is not the case. I think it will come a little more in the future years. I hope for the club. Today we structure, we try to move forward, that side is positive. Now I know that if we really want to worry Lyon, at some point it will open a little piggy bank, because we are still very far away from that side.


"It may not be expected to arrive as famous as Lyon. "


It's a bit unfortunate because it leaves regrets. When we see the championship game, with a little more efficiency, with a killer in front, we could have been able to bring back a draw. Because we were not ridiculous, we were certainly the only team in France that was not ridiculous against Lyon this year. But it's true that for a coach, it's a bit frustrating. But it's like that. And then, I'm in the politics of the club, we discussed with Bruno about the choices, the departures. For example the case of Laura Georges, it was discussed too, I'm not alone in making the decision. Today I hope that there will be arrivals, but it may not be expected to arrive as famous as Lyon.


Soccer Hearts - Oh yes? Since we hear the name of an American also in Paris?

Yeah yeah yeah (smile). I would like me, it would make me a little gift in 2018, since for now the gifts there are not too much. With the injury of Emma, ​​the draw of the Coupe de France was a little annoying with a second team of D1 in a row. Well it would be good to win it by beating only teams of D1, but I would have preferred a club, we will not say easier, but ... PFC is a derby, it's going to be a difficult match.


==> find the draw, the 1 / 16th finals of the Coupe de France.

Football Hearts - Is not the challenge also to target young players from 20-23 years, so that in the years that follow they can become the best players in the world?

No, today we mostly want to work with our training. To be more efficient, in the sense that when they come out of the age of 19, they can play with us, that they are capable of it. For the moment it is not yet the case. We have to train them six months, one year with team one. Some start [to get there], like Sandy Baltimore who played this weekend, Lina [Boussaha] it was not far either, or Léa Kergal I mentioned earlier. We must leave this door open to these players. And I think that's what the club wants.


Football Hearts - We often talk about foreign players who invest the D1, and I know you are attached to what the team of France shines, so should not let play time to young people French players like Lina Boussaha?

Yes, but the concern is that it must pass a course in the impact for example. Some matches may be, but it will come, Lina was not far from playing last weekend I told you, she was in the group. It is someone who progresses, after it is complicated. It is complicated because there is so much a difference between the under-19s and the championship in senior. Under 19, I do not want to be mean, but the championship is weak, very weak. It's not like boys, where they can play at a certain level right away. No, [the transition from one to the other], it's complicated.


"I would like the France team to win something
so I'm bound to work, a bit more, with French women. "


Reporter - Offensively a player like Samantha Kerr is interesting, is not it?

Oh yes, but the problem is that when I announce names I never have (laughs). It will be complicated with the dates, but it sure I would like it. Give me Samantha Kerr in Lyon, we would have made at least a draw. It is sure that the world top I would like, but it will come. It will come. I may be more here, but it will come at some point. We build and must be patient. There are beneficial things, the arrivals of Bruno [Cheyrou] and Bernard [Mendy], there is profit-sharing. Nasser tells me all the time: "Patience coach".


Reporter - Patience is not your biggest quality?

No, it's not my specialty, because when you're a competitor you want to win the matches, to score goals. But on the other hand, I'm still in a good club, we work well and we're not that far from some teams. Now it's women's football and on the other hand I'd like the French team to win something, so I'm bound to work, a little more, with French women. Especially at the youth level to be able to help them win something, this summer with Marie-Antoinette Katoto [at the U20 World Cup] and especially in a year and a half we make a beautiful Cup World.


Hearts of Foot - The FFF encourages D1 clubs to play the French ...

 (He cuts) Yes but hey, the FFF is not them who make me my contract in Paris. If I play only young people and I'm fifth, I will not stay long. But that's normal, it's the coach. It is the role of coach, we have a duty of result. It's good to please, I did it last year on some matches, remember Guingamp. 3-0 at half-time, I was happy and finished at 3-3. Without wanting to put everything on their backs, no no, you have to prepare them. But I think of having a team that looks more like a French team. Like the first Champions League with Lyon, where there were nine French women on the field. But that's another time.


Hearts of Football - It is necessary to find the good compromise in fact, between the young people, the foreign ones?

Yes find the right compromise. But always the same, we need leaders, girls who really bring a plus. Look in Lyon, they have leaders on each line. That's what makes the difference. And when we have that, afterwards it's easier to put young people around. But we will get there. I was reassured on that side, the club is ambitious at the female level and it is set up more.


Football Hearts - This weekend you are moving to Lille, you do not expect a trap match?

We will play at the Stadium, there is a track [athletics around the field] is not what I prefer. It's going to be a tough match. It's a good team, it's progressing well, it's working well and it's been a problem for us this weekend. It's up to us to be more serious in the beginning of the match and not wait for the match to make the difference because something can happen to us, we are not immune. Then it's a team that needs points. It's up to us to be serious and go win over there to stay in the right tempo since we have no right to make mistakes, Montpellier comes at a gallop behind. Dounia Mesli and Morgane Huguen