In the Premier League, only three points tell the tale of despair that the En Avant Guingamp women's football team is currently navigating. Stuck at the bottom of the league, the team is staring down the barrel of relegation as they prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain this Friday, March 21, 2025, at the Roudourou Stadium. Captain Alison Peniguel is candid about the struggles and the lingering hope within her squad.
"We try to maintain a good atmosphere and keep active during training sessions," Peniguel stated, emphasizing the importance of positivity amid their crisis. However, the reality is that each passing week, the pressure to secure points mounts—currently, they find themselves a daunting eight points behind the first non-relegation position.
The situation appeared particularly bleak after last weekend’s loss to Le Havre, where the team fell 2-1. Peniguel reflected on the ramifications of that match, clarifying that morale has been low. "It’s tough to say we’re doing well—it would be a lie—but we all work every day to try and progress and still believe we can turn this around," she remarked.
Despite the mounting challenges, the Guingamp players continue to push through. With their back against the wall, they hold onto hope as they dream of an unexpected turnaround that could resuscitate their season. Peniguel acknowledges the importance of keeping a strong collective spirit: "We need to find inner strength and put that into the team. The staff is also there to keep us uplifted. Our fight continues until the end."
Yet, personal setbacks compound their challenges. Recently, Peniguel suffered another injury, and after having only just returned to the pitch in January following a lengthy recovery from another setback, her absence will indeed weigh heavily on the squad. "I’m so frustrated to be absent again," she expressed, candidly admitting the toll that injuries have taken on her responsibilities as captain.
As the Guingamp team gears up to face PSG at home, they remain firmly entrenched at the bottom of the league, having not tasted victory since their last few outings. "La mayonnaise n’a pas pris," as one might say, reflecting the team’s struggle to find success. With six points separating them from Strasbourg, who sits eleventh in the standings, every knock against them seems to serve as a reminder of the tightrope they walk. Will an underdog performance revive their hopes?
With their final matches dwindling, the pressure to perform—and to do so quickly—intensifies with each passing week. Peniguel's words resonate with her team as they step onto the field against one of the league's giants. "We will keep fighting until the end," she affirmed, leaving fans hoping against hope that the tide might turn before it’s too late. As both players and staff commit to rallying together, the stakes could not be higher. Can En Avant find the strength to survive this season and avoid relegation? Only time will tell.
