This Friday at 8:45 p.m. (broadcast on Ligue1+), Paris Saint-Germain (2nd) will host Angers (7th) at the Parc des Princes for Matchday 2 of Ligue 1 2025-2026. In his press conference, Angers coach Alexandre Dujeux spoke about the upcoming clash with PSG, sharing his thoughts on preparation, tactics, and the challenge of facing the Parisian giant.
Dujeux: “We used different players to prepare everyone”
You’re facing uncertainty with players potentially leaving—how do you still prepare for PSG?
Yes, we’re going to focus on the PSG match. That’s often how weeks go; sometimes they’re more complicated than others, with a few small issues. We’re preparing for this game with all those little question marks.
How do you deal with absences?
We’re thinking about a lot of options, looking for alternatives. Some players are unavailable, and that can add up, but that’s football. We’ve rotated different players to make sure everyone is ready, and we’ll do our best in this match.
Dujeux: “Paris dominates possession, you need a lot of mental endurance”
Will you change your system, like last season against PSG?
Not necessarily. We can use different systems. Against Paris, they have such control of the game and so much individual talent that sometimes adding an extra defender can help. But it’s not just about the system—it’s about intelligence, especially collective intelligence. There’s also self-sacrifice, because these are tough games. Paris has huge possession, so you need tremendous mental endurance. Playing 90 minutes without making a single mistake against this kind of team is exceptional.
What kind of PSG are you expecting?
I don’t see many teams pressing very high against PSG, especially not smaller clubs. We’ll do our best, try to use the ball well, and make the most of every chance we get. Last year, we had opportunities but didn’t always make the right decisions in the final third. We lacked precision.
Dujeux: “There will be a full stadium, and they’ll have the right attitude to put on a strong performance”
Against Nantes, did you notice PSG weren’t at their peak yet?
It’s always tough against PSG. Right now, they’re not at the level they’ll be in March, since that’s when they’ll be targeting their best form. But they’ll be presenting their European trophies, the stadium will be packed, and they’ll definitely have the right mindset and desire to perform. Of course, they’re not at 100% yet—that’s normal after such a long season. But they have a squad that hasn’t changed much, with a lot of chemistry, so it remains a very difficult match. For us, the only way to get something from it is to pull off an upset.
Did their performance against Nantes reassure you?
They controlled the game against Nantes. Nantes had a few chances, and we’ll try to learn from that.
