Pierre Ekwah: "Starting out with the same intentions"

A Solid Performance Against Reims

Were we surprised? Yes and no, because we knew we had worked very well during that first week with the coaching staff. We were especially thrilled that it worked so well, even though there were periods where we weren’t the best team on the field. We responded well, even during those tougher moments. We were delighted in the locker room, and I’m sure the coaching staff was just as happy as we were.

Intensity as the Key Word

It’s up to us to make sure opposing teams have less time to put us in difficulty. (…) It’s a different style, especially for me, as I’m constantly in the midfield and adapting to the coach’s instructions. The coach’s voice carries on the field. He brings a lot of intensity to his words and his gestures. We’re compelled to translate that intensity onto the pitch.

Paris

PSG is a different challenge—it’s eleven international players on the field. We’re going there with good intentions and the desire to stick to our ideas. If I’m not ready to perform as well as I did against Reims, or even better, then I might as well stay home. We have to head into the game with the same intentions and not resign ourselves to suffering. We’ll try to disrupt them as much as possible and for as long as possible by applying the coach’s instructions. PSG remains as strong as ever. They’ve lost big names and very talented players recently, but they still dominate Ligue 1. Playing against them is always a unique experience.

A Need for Confidence

The coach’s first words when he arrived were about believing in our abilities and knowing we’re capable of doing what he’s asking of us. We mustn’t panic when things get tough because playing at Saint-Étienne comes with a lot of pressure, especially after going through difficult times. He brings his ideas and his message, and he has believed in us from the moment he arrived.

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Pierre
Ekwah

France