Q: It's time for a reunion with Germany on Friday, more than two months after the Euro semi-final.

Looking back, where did you lose the battle?

A: "They didn't have a lot of chances but they were + killers +, with a great striker (Alexandra Popp, editor's note), a bit of a surface fox. In terms of freshness, too, we had less time recovery (after the quarter-finals) and it was felt. At one point, it started to do a lot for our legs."

Q: The Germans read your game plan correctly and blocked the French corridors.

Isn't this also where France failed?

A: "Yes, they have the video, like us ... They were two or three on each player as soon as we had the ball. They surrounded us, they put a lot of intensity especially in the first period. They closed all our options, everything we had managed to do in the first matches."

Q: Wouldn't it have been better to play against this type of opponent in preparation for the Euro, rather than against the more modest Cameroon and Vietnam, even if it means losing?

A: "I totally agree. We need high-intensity matches throughout the season. There, it's good to face two big nations (Germany then Sweden in a friendly, on October 7 and 11 , editor's note) in view of the next World Cup. Losing in the year is not a serious fault, what matters is to work to arrive ready to play any nation at the time of the competition. "

Q: The hypothesis of a female counterpart to the League of Nations, with friendly matches between teams of equivalent level in Europe, seems to be emerging.

Is it a good idea?

A: "Meeting beautiful nations is a good idea for the development of women's football, especially since we have the possibility of being well televised. Afterwards, we chain seasons with a lot of high-intensity matches, in club or selection, and there are a lot of injuries. You have to be careful."

Q: Many spectators are expected in Dresden and Gothenburg.

In France, you play in medium-sized stadiums, which are not always full, is this disappointing given the enthusiasm observed at the 2019 World Cup?

A: "The best example for us remains the World Cup in France with full stadiums, this atmosphere ... We will have to fight to find that, that's for sure. Women's football had advanced quickly after the World Cup, then it went down. With the Euro it went up a bit, but we are not yet at the level where we would like to be.

Q: What is missing to achieve this?

A: "Sometimes there are words, but we want actions. We can fight, try, but we have to be able to really be supported by structures, clubs, the federation."

Q: This summer, was your desire to join Chelsea linked to the desire to go to a more structured, more attractive league?

A: "When you come out of the Euro in England, with an incredible atmosphere in the country of football, you obviously want to find that again. It may have contributed to it but it was not the only reason."

Q: Do you feel resentment vis-à-vis PSG who blocked your departure?

A: "We discussed with the management, today there is no resentment, no. I am under contract (until 2024, editor's note), Paris is my heart club, everyone knows. I had to bounce back as quickly as possible because the championship and the Champions League were coming very quickly, I managed to do that".

Q: PSG start their European campaign against Chelsea precisely on October 20.

Did Monday's draw make you smile?

A: "I didn't even have time to see the draw that I had already been sent several messages! It was sure that it was going to make a little talk. Life does things well, I had to falls on Chelsea in the group stage, that's how it is (smiles). These are good matches to play."

Interview conducted by Jérémy TALBOT.

© 2022 AFP