This Friday at 7:00 PM (CET), Paris Saint-Germain (1st) will face Le Havre (18th) at the Stade Océane as part of the 9th matchday of the 2026-2027 Ligue 1 season. In a press conference, Le Havre manager Didier Digard spoke about the upcoming match and their Parisian opponents.
Digard: “Players find it easy to get fired up for a match like this.”
How have the days been since the defeat in Marseille, with a match against Paris on the horizon?
It was very difficult after the game, naturally. It was hard to analyze, given what happened at both the beginning and the end of the match. But perhaps it’s easier when the next opponent is PSG. The guys know they need to be at 100%—at the very least. There will be a big crowd; players find it easy to get fired up for a match like this.
Why do you keep having such difficult starts to matches?
It’s a recurring issue, and it’s tough. The players are committed, but perhaps they struggle to handle the pressure at the start. They might be inhibited by that pressure. Unfortunately, it often takes a setback to shake them loose and help them play freely.
Digard: “We can draw lessons from their journey and the things they implement for the sake of the group and their shared objectives.”
How do you analyze the match, considering that substitutes scored, even if they haven’t always performed at the expected level? How do you manage that?
The good thing is having an opponent like PSG. We can draw lessons from their journey and the things they implement for the sake of the group and their shared objectives. The players who came off the bench performed well—better, in fact, than when they’ve started matches.
This also reflects the current situation, which has taken a toll on the players’ confidence. When they come on as substitutes, they play with more abandon and less overthinking. We need to find a way to change how we approach the start of our matches.
Digard: “The players must not think that there is any panic or a lack of focus.”
Is hosting PSG the ideal moment to try new things, or is that something to avoid when facing Paris?
Actually, that’s what we tell ourselves every time we play Paris. Perhaps they might change things up ahead of the Champions League—or perhaps we could try something different. I believe we need to be as precise and rational as possible in our decision-making. The players must not think that there is any panic or a lack of focus. We can no longer afford that; the league season is moving forward. We need to be truly prepared, competitive, and ensure that as many players as possible remain fully engaged.
Digard: “If they start the match on the right foot, it’s going to be a very long game for us.”
Is this the right time to give certain players a chance, or should they be held back?
That’s part of my thinking, because players—young ones in particular—might show a great deal of promise, but it can also be difficult for them to recover from a poor performance. Against PSG, you can never be sure if a player will shine or if they might end up feeling inhibited. We are also at the mercy of our opponent, who are an extraordinary side. If they start the match on the right foot, it’s going to be a very long game for us.
Digard: “Regardless of what they decide to do, we have to be at 100%. Otherwise, we stand no chance.”
With the Champions League, injuries, and the Ballon d’Or—is it possible that PSG might have their minds on other things? We do see a difference in their performances between Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
There is a difference, certainly—but even with that difference, they are still in first place. They are an extraordinary team. We can hope for it, we can wish for it, but one thing is certain: we have to be at 100%. It doesn’t matter which team they field. What’s fantastic is that this is a very tight-knit group. Half of our goals have been scored by substitutes, often after the 60th minute. They know exactly what they’re doing. Whatever they decide, we have to be at 100%. Otherwise, we don’t stand a chance.
What exactly do you expect from the players?
To be ourselves—to represent Le Havre, the club, the city, and its values. We need to demonstrate the very qualities that have allowed the club to stay up three seasons in a row: a great deal of fighting spirit, self-sacrifice, and unity. The most important thing is to believe. Without that, there’s no chance. It’s the foundation of any success; the players truly need to believe in themselves. I have faith in them.
Digard: “I’ll try to make fewer mistakes at the start”
PSG scores a lot after the 60th minute; is the goal to hold on for the entire match, rather than just until the 60th?
Exactly. We’ve seen in previous matches that they’ve sometimes struggled early on, only to make the difference later. They possess great collective strength, as well as the ability to adapt their game plan. There’s another interesting statistic: Le Havre is the second-highest scoring team when it comes to goals from substitutes. I’ll try to make fewer mistakes at the start (smiles), and we’ll aim to put in a more complete performance.
Is avoiding relegation the biggest challenge of your career at HAC?
Without a doubt—we’ve never had so few points before. I’m ready to face it; I have no issue with difficult situations, even if one would naturally prefer more pleasant times. You have to be strong in moments like these; it’s up to me to guide the players toward success.
Given the current situation, do you believe you can get a result against PSG?
If I didn’t believe it, I wouldn’t be here—truly. If I didn’t believe it, I wouldn’t be in this role; I wouldn’t be a coach. I do believe it, though it will be extremely difficult. That’s also what makes this sport so beautiful: upsets are possible. In our current situation, we need to pull off quite a few of them.
