Jackie Groenen: "These are the games you want to play" | OneFootball

The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder spoke about her side’s game against AFC Ajax tomorrow at 21:00 CET, on Matchday 1 of the 2023–2024 UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage.

Jackie, you've started a lot of games recently in midfield. how are you feeling?

'I feel really good. I'm really happy to be here; it's such a big club. It's so nice to play all the big games, to get ready, to feel that tension in your belly and to start games, and I'm really enjoying it here. It's a beautiful club.'

THIS WEEK MARKS THE RETURN OF THE uefa women's champions league. ARE YOU EXCITED TO PLAY IN THIS COMPETITION AGAIN WITH PARIS?

'Yes, I can't wait to start the Champions League again. After we play Ajax, there are going to be games every two or three days, and it's so nice as a player to always be able to get on the pitch and to play in front of the fans. I can't wait to play those big games here in Paris and have the ultras come out to support us. It's always a special moment.'

we're in a group with three good teams. how is the team approaching the group stage?

'I think that as soon as you get into the group stage of the Champions League, you know it's going to be hard. There are so many good teams. Women's football is evolving so much now that you don't really have easy games anymore when you get into the group stage of the Champions League. So, I'm really happy with the draw.

'We have so many different styles of football in this group, and I get to go home one time [away to Ajax], which is obviously very nice. We're playing in Rome and in Munich, and every game is special. As a player, these are the games you want to play, but I also hope we can make it work. I hope we can compete, and I'm sure we can.'

AHEAD OF THE TRIP, WHAT'S THE MINDSET LIKE WITHIN THE SQUAD?

'I think the spirit in the group at the moment is really good. We've been working hard. Our game got cancelled last weekend, which also gave us a bit more time to prepare and to actually work on things on the pitch. Everyone's doing really well, everyone's enjoying it, and you can see the team is really coming together now.'

AS A DUTCHWOMAN, CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT AJAX?

'I think Ajax are a very technical team. They play in a very similar style to what I'm used to, so I think I can analyse them quite well. They play in the typical Dutch way, inspired by [Johan] Cruyff, so it's a nice playing style for me. I enjoy watching them, but of course, I hope we beat them.'

in your opinion, what will the team need to do to get through to the knockout stage?

'I think the group is good, but of course, I hope we manage to win all the games. For me, this is a great group, a tough group, but it's also a group where you can finish first. It's also a group where you can finish last, but if we play our game and play our own style, I think we have a good team to compete here.'

--

Access all Paris Saint-Germain news on PSG.FR and PSG Official app.