Revons Plus Grand
Chapter 19:
Thieves In The Night
The last seven days between Valentine's Day and the 21st of February 2017 brought the best and the worst in Paris Saint-Germain Football Club. After a 4-0 thumping of Barcelona, the men's first team under Unai Emery played to a shocking scoreless draw against Toulouse FC, a display that came from not only failing to play Alex Hunter and Danny Williams off the bench but also choosing to bench Angel Di Maria after his heroic performance on Valentine's Day. The decision to not field the young promising talent from England forced the managers of Manchester United and Newcastle United, Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez, to call in their respective young up and comers early.
"Sorry to see both of you go," said Georgette Lemare to Alex and Danny as she and Sadako Shimohara escorted the boys to Charles De Gaulle Airport on Mr. Sami's coach.
"I enjoyed being with you two but since our guys just won over Blackburn in the FA Cup," said Alex, "I will be needed to help them out against Chelsea and win for my granddad and keep them going."
"And as for me," said Danny, "Newcastle are down to second in the Championship and I need to help them get right for the next few stretches of games."
"The important thing is that you got some experience playing in the Champions League and now you can use the skills you learned here to get going over in England," Sadako said.
"We'll give it a go, don't worry about it."
"And always remember, we'll always have Paris," said Georgette, triggering a laugh from their male mates. As the two boys talked with Sadako over their time spend in France, Jose looked at the new weekly planning schedule, which was surprisingly light. Monaco would go on to lose in their contest later with Manchester City, 5-3 after going 3-2 up.
Monday, February 20th 2017
No training session
Tuesday, February 21st 2017 - Parc des Princes
No training session
Wednesday, February 22nd 2017
Training session closed to media
Thursday, February 23rd 2017
Training session closed to media
Friday, February 24th 2017
Training session closed to media
Saturday, February 25th 2017 - Centre d'Entraînement Ooredoo
11:00 AM: Training session opened to media for first 15 minutes
01:30 PM: Press conference with Unai Emery (live on PSG TV)
Sunday, February 26th 2017 - Orange Vélodrome
09:00 PM: Olympique de Marseille - Paris Saint-Germain
Ligue 1 - Week 27
The coach finally arrived at the airport. "Well, it's time for us to say goodbye," said Alex as he and Danny gave hugs and kisses to Sadako and Georgette. "I will miss you guys."
"Here's something for you." Georgette handed Alex an autographed photo of her and Sadako in Barenton. "If you need to be motivated, just think of us. Be inspired to keep the good name of your family alive, Alex. Thank you for your hard work!"
"Thank you for your hard work as well," said Danny. "We'll be on our way, see yoU!"
"Bye-bye!" said the boys as they headed to the airport to board their flight. Georgette and Sadako waved them off.
"So there they go," Sadako said as the two girls went back inside the coach to head back to their apartment. Sadako was holding the schedule for the women. The two of them had Monday off. The ladies had crushed Tours FC 11-0 in the Coupe de France Feminine but weren't too keen on drawing Montpellier HSC in the quarterfinals. Domont FC were routed by Montpellier by the score of 16-0. Juvisy Essonne were the next opponent for PSG, and they happened to also be next on the league schedule too.
Monday, February 20th 2017
No training session
Tuesday, February 21st 2017
Training session closed to media
Wednesday, February 22nd 2017
Training session closed to media
Thursday, February 23rd 2017 - CSLBF (Bougival)
02:15 PM: Press conference with Patrice Lair and one Paris Saint-Germain's player
03:00 PM: Training session opened to media
Friday, February 24th 2017
Training session closed to media
Saturday, February 25th 2017 - Stade Robert Bobin
09:00 PM: FCF Juvisy Essonne - Paris Saint-Germain
D1 Féminine - Week 15
Sunday, February 26th 2017
No training session
"I'm gonna go on a run," said Hikari Karibuchi to her sister Takami at their apartment room, putting on shorts, a tank top and, a track suit and pants and sneakers.
Takami was busy doing some cooking. "You're not going to eat first?" She had some sandwiches she was arranging.
On cue, Hikari's stomach growled. "Ooops, you're right."
"Come on, here you go." A Brittania-style fry-up, something that Hikari was fine with, unlike her contemporary Yoshika Miyafuji.
"Mmmmmm!" Yoshika dug right in happily, scarfing down the plate in double quick time. Afterwards, out the door she went, going on a four-hour run that saw her dash through all 20 arrondissements before returning to the house. "I feel dizzy..." she said, having worked up a sweat.
"You need to think about getting freshened up," Takami said. "How was the run?"
Hikari got into the bath. "I think life flashed before my eyes, onee-chan!"
Sunday came, and following a 2-1 win for the ladies over FCF Juvisy, Sadako and Georgette were at home watching the match on Canal Plus. As this was a road game, the girls were not needed to accompany them to the Marseille. "Bummer that we don't get to fly with them," said Sadako. "I would have loved to head with them." The strains of "Jump" by Van Halen was playing, followed by the Ligue 1 theme, the aqua, white and black tifosi in the air, detonators going out. Benoit Bastien was the match referee.
"The place is really loud," said Georgette. "Really exciting battle taking place. Di Maria and Draxler are on the bench, it seems." Soon enough, the match began. What unfolded was a one-sided passing and possession clinic that saw a few cards to either end. Dimitri Payet was able to get a few good shots on goal in this game, including one that hit the post.
The sixth minute came. "Goal," Sadako said. "Marquinhos from Silva."
"That was an amazing header cross and a brilliant header finish," Georgette said.
"You told the troops to get fired up and get motivated on Saturday, right? It seems to have worked." AS Monaco, Olympique Lyonnais and OGC Nice all won earlier on the weekend.
"I did. But I am still not convinced." Fifteenth minute came. "That's a bit better."
"A slow roller chip from Edinson Cavani and he continues his hotstreak. Good backheel from Pastore, too. 2-0."
"Crowd has gone silent," Georgette said with a giggle. "Not that I'm complaining..." The rest of the first half was a clinic of missed finishes that left the two girls groaning at times.
After the two girls had some hot chocolate to drink at the break, the second half would begin, with the next goal coming on 50 minutes. "Oh, that's a horror from OM," said Sadako. "Horror. The horror..."
"What do you mean?" asked Jose.
"Rod Fanni with a shocker and Lucas delivers another slow roller, right side. No one marked Lucas Moura there."
"Marseille look all too human tonight, indeed." 61st minute came. "Way too human. Draxler, after coming in, makes it 4-0. Kinda looked like an own goal there but I think Juli will get that."
69th minute. "Ugh, Meunier with a shocking foul and a free kick set for Payet from the left side." The initial cross was saved by Trapp, but the rebound went to Fanni off the pass, who converted, top right corner. "4-1. Fanni and Meunier confirmed for worst on ground."
In the 72nd minute, a Marco Verratti cross from the right side found Blaise Matuidi, who put the game out of reach. "5-1. What a clinic it has been for our guys."
"Mmm-hmmm..." Jose took off her camisole and underwear and allowed a similarly nude Sadako to pleasure her for the rest of the game, fondling her endowments and fingering her plump flower while letting her tongue dance on her neck., their ears and tails sprouting out as they watched the Marseille fans leave in disgust, the local ultras still jumping and chanting, albeit in vain.
The final score: Paris 5, Marseille 1. Decisive and a fair result. The chase for the league title continue, but Niort was next, and after they took it on the chin from PSG's next door neighbords Red Star FC, Les Parisiens were heavily favorite to get the job done early and often.
"I feel terrible," said Thomas Meunier during the lunch for the players as Sadako and Georgette served the usual salad and lean protein.
"Why so?" asked Georgette, distributing plates.
"I gave up a set piece that prevented the shutout for the guys and I feel real back about it. That's why I had to do extra running."
"Well, that's what you get for not being responsible and being clumsy. It didn't really affect the outcome too much, though, if you look at it in a positive light..."
"No, I really feel that I let the guys down there and I need to not be so idiotic when trying to win the ball. I feel real bad about this."
Georgette went to Thomas. "Look Thomas, you have to remember that everything happens for a reason. Rod also made a mistake on his end and things just had to even out for him. Remember, you were a big help against Barcelona. We have Niort, right?"
"Right..."
"And Niort loss to Red Star, our neighbors next door, the other day."
"Did they?"
"So you have a chance to prove to the manager that you will not cost the team like you did last night at the Velodrome."
"Jose..."
"As long as you win and ideally win comfortably, you don't need to worry about one major gaffe because the rest of you got your back. As long as I am here with you, losses are going to be quite rare. Don't forget that, okay?"
"Thanks, Jose."
"Now go eat up. I gotta help Sada with fixing the place here. Use this as motivation to do better against the Chamois. We need to win that."
"Got it..." And so the embattled, but not broken Thomas Meunier ate up as Georgette left the players to themselves to chat over their form as a unit. Georgette sighed. She sometimes wondered why Thomas had to be so hard on himself after giving up a goal that didn't really matter too much. But the pride of Barenton did applaud the ongoing efforts by the men's first team to be flawless, fluid and effctive in their performance and execution, anytime, anywhere. Paris Saint-Germain believed in not only winning, but winning with style, and while it wasn't perfect, the boys were motivated to tighten up against a team struggling to stay in the second division.
END CHAPTER 19