“Six of the twelve goals were avoidable”: Gilli lays out the path forward

At Friday’s press conference, Stéphane Gilli didn’t sugarcoat it. What many have sensed since the start of the season, he said out loud: Paris FC are dropping points on fixable mistakes.

“We’ve conceded 12 goals. Six of them, without saying we handed them over, were, to me, very avoidable. That’s still 50% of the goals we’ve let in.”

There it is. Half the goals. For a newly promoted side sitting 11th with two wins and three defeats, it’s not a crisis. But Gilli knows this is where the line is drawn, between a calm season and a complicated one.

A problem that’s been brewing for weeks

Strasbourg wasn’t the trigger. “I didn’t wait for that match to realise it. It’s been recurring since the start of the season,” Gilli explained. The issue’s been there from day one.

“When I talk about focus, discipline, consistency across a match… I think if there’s one common thread in our five games, it’s that we’re not consistent.”

Ligue 1 doesn’t forgive lapses. You have to be switched on for 90 minutes. Not 70. Not 85. Ninety. And Paris FC, for now, are struggling to meet that demand from start to finish.

Three goals, three types of mistakes

Gilli broke it down. First goal: “We lost our man.” Second: “Individual error.” Third: “A phase where everyone has a role, and some didn’t do theirs.”

Three situations. Three different mistakes. But one thing in common: these were moments the team had under control. No brilliance from the opposition. No bad luck. Just lapses where concentration fades and the system breaks down.

“It’s maybe part of emotional management too, being able to read what the opponent is doing,” added the coach. Ligue 1 matches shift constantly. You have to adapt in real time.

Video, pitch work, one-on-one talks

Gilli’s response has been methodical. “We’ve worked more on taking responsibility, showing more personality at key moments in a match.”

Video analysis of costly phases. Targeted drills in training. Individual conversations with the players involved. “We’ve highlighted the game situations that have hurt us since the start of the season,” he said.

No magic formula. Just work. “If we want to perform and win games, we’ll have to erase all that.”

Nice on Sunday: a test not to take lightly

The trip to Nice comes at the right time. Les Aiglons are going through a rough patch, but Gilli isn’t fooled. “They’re a team that can control the game collectively, that can play in transition, and that puts real depth into their attacks.”

The numbers back it up: “They make more runs in behind the defensive line than any other team.” Exactly the kind of opponent that punishes defensive lapses.

“We’ll need to make as few mistakes as possible,” Gilli insisted. Message received.

A real margin for growth

“Given what we’re showing and building, I think we’re capable of having a good season,” the coach concluded.

Six avoidable goals aren’t a curse. They’re a margin. A margin that could turn three defeats into draws, or even wins. A margin that could lift Paris FC up the table.

The potential is there. So are the errors. It’s up to Gilli and his players to turn diagnosis into action. Sunday in Nice will offer a first glimpse.