Paris Saint-Germain and Reims faced off this Saturday at the Parc des Princes for the 19th day of Ligue 1 2024-2025. The match ended in a 1-1 draw (video summary PSG/Reims). After the match, Rheims coach Luka Elsner spoke at a press conference.
Elsner “It took heart and discipline.”
“What are your feelings after this match ?
You can have regrets after every game, but to succeed in thwarting PSG’s plan is an excellent thing. We did well in our match, especially as we came back from a goal down. We’re happy with the point, but above all with the battle. It took heart and discipline.
Was it the best time to face PSG, between two Champions League matches ?
I’m not sure there’s a great time to play PSG. They’ve got a super-complete squad and then there’s a new arrival who’s brought energy to their team.
Elsner “I hope this draw will start a new positive series for us.”
Is that the best response to your critics ?
The players are ready to go to war, because it’s their responsibility too. They want to respond and show their worth. When results are good, everything’s fine, but when they’re negative, things are called into question. That’s part of the job.
We work with a lot of constraints. There are absentees, boys to bring up to scratch athletically… Like the point we picked up in Marseille (2-2, August 25), I hope this draw will launch a new positive series for us.”
The Reims coach is understandably proud, given that a draw at the Parc des Princes is never easy to achieve. Even if PSG did have their heads and legs in Europe. They had a great team on the pitch and they needed a great performance from their team to get through.
Of course, there are always small points that we’d like to change in order to get the win, but we should already savour what was achieved with the fine resistance on offer. The Rémois showed great solidarity and didn’t give up after the opening goal. It’s all to their credit.
The proposed tactics were nothing special, with above all a low, solid block to counter the attack. We like it when it’s more “ambitious” and spectacular. But you also have to understand that your opponents are there to advance in their own league, and therefore play with their own weapons. It’s up to PSG to find solutions. They didn’t show enough pace or precision this time. Not to mention the fact that, as is often the case, they came up against a goalkeeper who was in top form.
