This Saturday at 7pm (CET) Paris Saint-Germain (1st) will face Angers (8th) at the Stade Raymond-Kopa as part of the 31st matchday of Ligue 1 2025-2026. In a press conference, Angers defender Abdoulaye Bamba (35 years old) spoke about this match and the Parisian opponent.
Bamba: “A prestigious match against a top team”
How to approach the match?
This weekend’s match is a prestigious match against a top team. It will be a great match to play with a fantastic atmosphere at the stadium. We’re going to play for the team and for the fans.
A special match?
It’s the kind of match we want to play, which is never easy. We also want to enjoy ourselves.
Bamba: “They’re not European champions for nothing”
A match to grow?
We learned from our matches against PSG, where we gained valuable experience. They aren’t European champions for nothing. It’s up to us to show the right mindset, defend together, and stay compact.
The objective?
We want to put on a good show in front of our fans. We’ve played some great matches this season, and we want to finish it strong.
Bamba: “They’re getting stronger.”
The keys to the match?
The last few matches against PSG came down to details, like defensive and offensive efficiency. We need to eliminate those to try and get a result. They have a top player in every position on the pitch. At the beginning of the season, it was more difficult, probably due to fatigue. “They’re gaining momentum.”
In his statement, Bamba avoids both over-cautiousness and wishful thinking. His message is that of a team fully aware of Paris Saint-Germain’s level, but one that refuses to approach this match with resignation. The Angers defender emphasizes the importance of mindset, defensive solidity, solidarity, and the ability to stay focused on the details, where this type of match can turn.
Underlying this, he also acknowledges the growing strength of the Parisian club, European champions with top-quality players in every position, while reminding everyone that Angers wants to present an ambitious image to its fans. This isn’t a survival tactic, but rather a way of embracing the challenge without flinching. The most interesting aspect of this statement is that Angers isn’t boasting, but neither is it apologizing for being competitive. Against this PSG side, that’s already a first step towards demonstrating ambition.
