Paris FC/PSG – Paulo César opens up on the semi-final and the future

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·16 Mei 2026

Paris FC/PSG – Paulo César opens up on the semi-final and the future

This Saturday, the women’s teams of Paris Saint-Germain and Paris FC will face off at Stade Jean Bouin (broadcast on Canal+Foot) at 9 p.m. in the semifinal of the 2025-2026 Première Ligue Arkéma playoff. A match discussed by Paris coach Paulo César at his press conference.

César: “We also have a lot of doubts about them. Just like they have some about us.”

What did you take away from the Coupe de France semifinal that you won against them (2-1, on April 4)? Our determination to defend well. Fifteen minutes with 9 players is not easy. I think we need to keep that same mindset, that determination to defend well. And then we have the quality to unsettle this team. It won’t be the same, the scenario will show us different things. Will they change the system? Will they change the players? We also have a lot of doubts about them. Just like they have some about us. We have to keep the mindset from the Coupe de France semifinal…

César: “To move on to the next stage, we need to sit down around a table”

Would losing on Saturday be a failure? No, not at all. In any case, I never work with defeat in mind, I work to win. After that, there is the reality of the match that will unfold. I think the season has been pretty good. Despite the nine points we lost, I think we showed something very interesting with a young group. It’s very positive. But it’s not for me to judge. The sporting and general management can judge my work. I’m very happy with what I produced this season, even with the defeats, even with the Champions League elimination. The overall assessment is positive. To move on to the next stage, we need to sit down around a table and look at the best solutions so the team can strengthen further and be better next season.”

Of course, no one can present themselves as the likely winner tonight. Even though PSG have the edge with a better record in this derby this season (3 wins and 1 draw), nothing has ever come easy, and PFC are fully capable of pulling off something big tonight. There is no room for complacency. On the other hand, confidence and determination are needed.

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Paulo César and his team certainly have arguments to once again come out on top and secure qualification for the final (against Nantes or OL Lyonnes, whose semifinal kicks off at 6 p.m. this Saturday). That alone would already be a great achievement. The objective remains to win the title, as in the LFFP Cup and the Coupe de France. Except OL were simply too strong.

That should not take away from the fact that PSG’s season does not actually seem so bad, despite major difficulties to overcome. Such as the administrative blunder involving Florianne Jourde that cost the team 9 points in the league. The squad showed great character to climb back up. The Champions League campaign, ending with elimination in the league phase, remains the big disappointment. But it was also a season of renewal.

As has already been said several times in recent years regarding PSG Women, the way the summer is handled will be very important in order to keep progressing. The club finally needs stability so it can build while adding a few players, whereas there have too often been waves of departures and arrivals, along with a coaching change. We will have to wait and see how things take shape. Paulo César seems ready to continue, with a proper discussion to make sure the project is moving in the right direction.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.