Paris Saint-Germain and Strasbourg faced off this Sunday at the Parc des Princes in Matchday 20 of the 2025-2026 Ligue 1 season. The match ended in a 2-1 victory for PSG. After the game, Strasbourg coach Gary O’Neil spoke at a press conference.
O’Neil: “We should never have conceded that first goal.”
“I think we did enough to try and win this match. It’s true that we had that chance before halftime, a 3-on-1 situation, with Julio making a poor decision. We should never have conceded that first goal after missing a penalty. That’s how it is, but we still put in a good performance.
I wanted to keep Julio (Enciso) on the pitch as long as possible because as soon as he has the ball, he’s always a threat.” But I felt PSG were increasingly taking control of the game, so I wanted to bring on Rafa (Luís) to provide some stability in midfield.
O’Neil: “I’m very proud of the team but disappointed.”
“I’m very proud of the team but disappointed that we lost. I think we managed the game well, defended well, and unsettled PSG. We also made good use of the ball. We’re now focused on Monaco and Le Havre.”
It’s frustrating for Strasbourg, especially since this match reflects their season. They have shown great qualities, the ability to compete with anyone, but also some costly mistakes. These include the two O’Neil mentioned: conceding a somewhat silly first goal and wasting an excellent attacking opportunity (even if PSG defended well, given the circumstances).
This inevitably leads to mixed feelings after this defeat. The disappointment is palpable, especially since Strasbourg desperately needs points for their European qualification hopes. But they shouldn’t throw everything away; holding their own against PSG like that is no small feat. They must build on this positive, while also learning from their mistakes.
These mistakes are also somewhat part of the squad’s youth, such as the second goal conceded when they were down to 10 men, perhaps due to over-enthusiasm in attack and a defensive lapse. Now, they just need to work towards the future, with a very challenging schedule ahead: a French Cup match against Monaco this Thursday, followed by Le Havre and, most importantly, matches against Marseille, Lyon, and Lens in Ligue 1.
