This Saturday at 7pm (CET) Paris Saint-Germain (2nd) will face Metz (18th) at the Stade Saint-Symphorien as part of the 16th matchday of Ligue 1 2025-2026. In a press conference, Stéphane Le Mignan, the Metz coach, spoke about this match and their Parisian opponent. Here is the gist of his remarks, with the desire to achieve a feat, particularly through defense.
Le Mignan: “Being more than perfect”
PSG?
They’re an opponent that, in 2025, is the best in the world. So, the task is very complicated. We’ll have to be more than perfect to get a result against this team.
We’re in a difficult position in the standings. Against every opponent, we have to do our best to get points and move forward. Today, it’s PSG, an opponent that outclasses the others most of the time. But, having said that, we have the reality of the league. We have to do our best to get points.
Le Mignan: “We’re going to defend a lot, play a lot without the ball.”
The keys to success?
It’s more difficult because they’re a team that presses a lot, that has a lot of possession. We’re going to defend a lot, play a lot without the ball. We have to prepare ourselves mentally for that. I think we’re aware of that. Then, we have to see what we can do with the ball. It’s a difficult task, because it takes a lot of energy to win it back.
After that, we still need to manage to create those periods of calm. It will be difficult, but we want to do it. It’s part of the learning process against a top team, with top players. We need to be able to put together sequences of play, like we’ve managed a few times in recent weeks. And we’ll have to seize every opportunity that comes our way.
Le Mignan: “We have to show our commitment and our defensive thinking.”
Will playing at home be an advantage?
Generally speaking, playing at home makes you feel stronger. You often give away fewer opportunities. Away from home, we’ve conceded three goals twice in the last few matches. That’s a problem we need to address going forward.
If we can perform well against a team like Paris, giving away as few opportunities as possible, even if there are some, that will be interesting. They’re not an opponent to play against to feel more confident, but we have to show our commitment and our defensive thinking.
How do we explain this dip in form?
Perhaps there’s been a lapse in concentration. You can see it in our attitudes, in our commitment. There are goals that reveal a lot of things. It’s not a lot, but it’s enough. We can’t afford that. At home, we’ve had that extra bit of that fighting spirit. Away from home, it’s been lacking more. Conceding three goals in Auxerre should really bring us back down to earth.
