Paris FC defender Maxime Bernauer has dismissed claims of a significant gap between Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 ahead of his team's crucial playoff second leg against OGC Nice.
The match, scheduled for Friday, will be played behind closed doors at Stade Sébastien Charléty due to fan restrictions.
>>> Rob Thomson Shows Support for Kansas Jayhawks at First NCAA Regional
Bernauer: Performance Boosted Confidence
Bernauer insisted that Paris FC matched their top-flight opponents in the first leg on Tuesday, despite failing to score or secure an advantage.
“We played on equal terms with them.
Many said after their match against Lens that there was a gap between Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, but that wasn't really visible,” Bernauer said.
The defender emphasized that the team reviewed footage from the first leg to identify areas for improvement.
“We need to do everything a bit better than Tuesday and push into the details. We lacked a bit of technical precision, a bit of everything.
Defensively, we must not do less; the attackers ran a lot for us defenders, and the midfielders did good work,” he added.
>>> Jonas Vingegaard Faces Six Dolomite Climbs in Giro Stage 19
Bernauer noted that the first-leg performance boosted collective confidence, especially for younger players facing top-flight opposition for the first time.
“The match on Tuesday put the team in confidence, especially those who had never played against Ligue 1 players.
When you see the quality of Luan (Gadegbeku)'s game, we trust everyone and know what we are capable of,” he said.
Regarding the empty stadium, Bernauer expressed disappointment but stressed that the high stakes provide sufficient motivation.
“Playing behind closed doors is weird; it's never normal to play in an empty stadium. But the stakes are there; we don't need extra motivation.
>>> Teichmann vs Muchova: French Open Third Round Preview
We just want to win, go back, and celebrate with our supporters,” he concluded.
