Paris Saint-Germain and Strasbourg faced off this Saturday at the Stade de la Meinau for the 7th matchday of the 2026-2027 Ligue 1 season. The encounter ended in a 1-3 victory for the Parisians. Following the match, Strasbourg head coach Hugo Oliveira spoke at a press conference.
Oliveira: “We use these difficult matches.”
“We use these difficult matches—away at Paris, at Nice, and today—to learn and to foster the team’s development. We will grow. There are positive signs for the future.
Young players can lose and regain confidence very, very quickly; that’s the nature of their energy. We learn as we play—it’s all part of the process. This is our vision, our project, and everyone is working in the same direction.
We played against the best team in the world, and we did so with personality. The confidence is there. It’s my job to help the players understand when to make a pass and when to take a shot.”
Naturally, there is disappointment following a defeat, especially after having held the lead for a significant portion of the match. These points would have been a major boost for Strasbourg, who are currently going through a difficult spell (one draw and three losses). However, one must also accept that the opponent was simply the stronger side—a result that is, in the end, logical.
Paris rotated their squad for this match while maintaining a cohesive structure, even if they lacked a bit of sharpness and precision at times. Later, the introduction of key, senior players helped shift the tempo and ultimately turned the match in their favor. It’s an unpleasant experience, but it also serves as a learning opportunity for this Strasbourg squad, which is exceptionally young (the oldest players are 24).
Oliveira rightly highlights the lessons to be drawn so that the team can pick up points in more manageable fixtures—perhaps even in the return leg against PSG, by putting in a more well-rounded performance. Though, admittedly, toppling Luis Enrique’s side will always be a tall order.
