This Sunday, as part of the 8th matchday of the 2026-2027 Ligue 1 season, Paris Saint-Germain faced Olympique Lyonnais at the Parc des Princes. Moussa Niakhaté, the 30-year-old defender for the Lyon club, spoke to Ligue1+ following PSG’s 2-0 victory.
Niakhaté: “We fought hard; we did a tremendous amount of running.”
The Parisians set an intense, relentless pace—is it difficult to keep that up until the final whistle?
“Yes, exactly. We fought hard and ran a huge amount. Every time we play them, they’re the team that forces us to run the most. But I think we showed real grit; we defended well and were sensible when in possession. We produced some good moments. Still, as the match went on, the gaps between our lines began to widen, we were a split-second late, and we lost balls we shouldn’t have—simply because our decision-making suffered from fatigue. And, in the end, we conceded.”
Niakhaté: “Compared to last year, we were less clinical, while they were a bit more so.”
It’s tough to sit deep and rely on transitions. Should you have tried to hold onto the ball a bit more?
“That would have been ideal, but we were prepared for this scenario. The coach had warned us that we wouldn’t see much of the ball. This team forces you into making mistakes. Our plan was to attack quickly. You either go all-in or try to retain possession. We looked for a goal—we knew we wouldn’t get ten chances—but, all things considered, we still managed to create some opportunities.” Compared to last year, we were less efficient, while they were a bit more so.
Niakhaté: “There are positives; we can build on this.”
Was it just an “off” day?
We came here with high ambitions; we wanted to win because we know we’re capable of it. They have great qualities, but also a few flaws that can be exploited. There’s a lot to take away from this. At the same time, there’s disappointment—we were really hoping to come away with something. Still, there are positives, and we can build on them.
Niakhaté: “We aren’t afraid to play; you have to be brave against Paris.”
Was there a lot of work to be done in midfield when it came to initiating attacks?
They’re a very aggressive side, playing almost man-to-man. It required grit and bravery. We had to form triangles to find an open player—that was how we hoped to hurt them. We created chances, but we didn’t score. We aren’t afraid to play; you have to be brave against Paris. We didn’t get the result, but there were some good things.
