This Sunday, the Paris Saint-Germain and Paris FC women’s teams faced off at the Parc des Princes in the Arkéma 2024-2025 Première Ligue playoff semi-final. After the 3-0 victory, defender Elisa De Almeida (27) spoke in the mixed zone.
De Almeida: “We’re enjoying playing together again.
How did you cope with this crazy week?
Well, we’re the players, so it doesn’t necessarily affect us what’s going on. Even if it’s true that the arrival of Paulo, whom we already know, has done us a world of good. You can tell, we’re enjoying playing together again. It was a real team effort, even for the substitutes.
Is Sakina Karchaoui’s goal celebration with the staff symbolic?
Yes, because it’s the reward for a week’s hard work, joy and good humour. Paulo has brought back some of that fun. It feels good. We’d also like to thank him for all his hard work in such a short space of time.
Are you the saviour who prevents goals ?
I’ve always said it’s a collective thing. It’s a collective thing. If I can do it, I always will (smile).
De Almeida “It feels good tonight, we’re bringing out the collective and the pleasure.”
Any chance of revenge this Sunday after the lost final ?
That was one match, this was another. We knew it would be complicated. We worked hard and knew what we had to do. It showed. The most important thing was to get back to enjoying ourselves together.
We could see the pleasure and the mastery.
Yes, it was a collective effort from everyone. Playing at the Parc also helps us, it pushes us. We know we’re pushed when it’s tough. But the word that has to come out is collective.
A complicated season ?
Yes, we’re not going to hide. Everyone knows it. It’s everyone’s fault. We were eliminated prematurely from the Champions League, and there were a few slip-ups in the league. It’s good to see that tonight, we’re bringing out the collective and the pleasure.
De Almeida “We showed a different side to the rest of the season.”
Finally a win against Paris FC, 2nd place is well deserved as well as the final ?
Yes, I think we deserved it today. We saw the score. We showed a different side to the rest of the season. I’d also like to congratulate Paulo. In a short space of time, he’s adapted to the team. We tried to make him feel welcome, even though we already knew him. Teaching us another system in just a few days, that’s very impressive.
How do you feel about Lyon in the final ?
We know Lyon, they know us. We celebrated a bit tonight, but we’re going to rest up and see you on Friday.
Is intense pressing the key against Lyon as it was against Arsenal ?
I’m not a coach (laughs). We’ll see what’s required. That’s what we were asked to do and we did it well.
De Almeida “His goal is karma.”
A big mental impact, what did the coach say ?
Honestly, I think the biggest piece of advice was to get the collective spirit back in the dressing room. Mentally, we were pretty lost. He got us back on track.
Is Karchaoui the symbol of all this ?
She’s liberated, we know who she is. It’s more complicated without her. Her goal is karma (laughs).
