As Auxerre gears up for a tough matchup against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) this Friday, Gideon Mensah exudes confidence, believing an upset is within reach.
Christophe Pélissier’s squad faces a significant challenge as they host the reigning champions, who remain unbeaten in Ligue 1.
Auxerre had been riding high with a five-match unbeaten streak, including four victories, which propelled them into the top half of the league table. However, a recent loss to mid-table rivals Toulouse has left Auxerre eager to return to winning form.
“We had a good run of five games without defeat, and then we took our first loss last weekend, which was disappointing for us,” Mensah shared in an interview with Flashscore facilitated by Ligue 1.
“But at the end of the day, we know it’s a long season, so there will be ups and downs. Losses like this remind us that we need to stay focused because anything can happen during the season.”
Despite PSG’s impressive record of 13 league games without defeat, their recent performances—a loss to Bayern Munich followed by a draw against Nantes—suggest they may be vulnerable. Mensah finds motivation in big matches and acknowledges the challenge ahead.
“I’m very confident against PSG. Most of my motivation comes from playing against top teams. I know it will be a good game for both myself and the team. These matches push us to perform better.”
Auxerre’s home form has been a significant asset this season, with the team boasting the second-best home record in Ligue 1 after PSG. They have secured 15 points from six home games, only trailing PSG’s 19 points. Mensah attributes their success at Stade de l’Abbé Deschamps to their passionate fans.
“Since our promotion to Ligue 1 two seasons ago, playing at home with our supporters has always been our strength. We rarely fear any opponent at home because even if we struggle physically, the fans will push us.”
Memories of past encounters with PSG linger for Auxerre fans; two seasons ago, Kylian Mbappé’s first-half brace led to a narrow 2-1 defeat for Auxerre. Mensah believes this time will be different.
“Two seasons ago, we lost 5-0 in Paris, which was tough because they were clearly the better side. However, our home game was much closer with a 2-1 loss, showing we have what it takes to compete at home.”
On a personal note, Mensah has faced PSG four times in Ligue 1 without securing a victory and is determined to change that narrative: “I want to end every negative streak in my career. I enjoyed our five-game unbeaten run; winning against bigger clubs feels incredible. Losing again to PSG is not something I’m looking forward to.”
If Auxerre aims to challenge PSG’s defense effectively, they will rely heavily on Hamid Traore, who has been in excellent form since joining on loan from Bournemouth and has scored six goals this season—five of which contributed to points earned by Auxerre.
“Hamid Traore has been one of our standout players this season,” Mensah noted. “He’s scored crucial goals that have helped us earn points. We need players like him to step up and make a difference.”
With 19 points from 13 Ligue 1 matches so far, Auxerre may be tempted to set higher ambitions. However, Mensah remains focused on their primary goal: staying in the league next season. “Our goal is still the same: we need to remain in Ligue 1,” he stated firmly. “It doesn’t matter how we achieve it—whether we finish third, fourth, or fifth—as long as we stay up.”
The upcoming match against PSG will serve as Auxerre’s biggest test of the season and an opportunity for Pélissier to improve his record against the Parisians, having won just once in his previous 12 encounters with them.
