PARIS – While Paris Saint-Germain tries to lure a star name, the team’s current players are focusing on ending Brest’s unbeaten home record in the French league on Saturday.
Despite PSG’s massive spending spree and newly acquired financial clout, the French leaders are only three points ahead of Montpellier, and will be under constant pressure until they opens up a significant gap at the top.
Midfielder Clement Chantome says the hope of seeing PSG slip up gives opposing teams and fans some extra motivation.
“People are waiting for us everywhere we go, you saw that in the French Cup,” Chantome said. “Brest is unbeaten at home so we know what to expect. They will be well organized and try to catch us on the break.”
Although coach Carlo Ancelotti has won his first three games in charge, PSG only asserted its advantage in the second half of those games and has yet to find a slick playing style that demanding fans expect — given an outlay of around €90 million ($129 million).
Despite such clout, PSG has failed in three successive attempts to sign a big-name player.
David Beckham stayed with LA Galaxy, then striker Alexandre Pato pledged his future to AC Milan and, finally, PSG’s sporting director Leonardo admitted defeat in his bid to sign Carlos Tevez from Manchester City.
The pursuit of such stars seems a bit unreal to Chantome.
Having joined PSG at the age of 12 and made his way through the club’s youth team ranks, he has experienced the rare highs and crushing lows at PSG more than most over recent years.
The 24-year-old midfielder made his debut in the 2006-07 season, when PSG was battling against both relegation and a hooliganism problem among its own fans. It finished in 15th place as Lyon won yet another title.
The following season saw more of the same misery, with PSG staying up only on the last day and tensions between players and fans escalating to such an extent that riot police were once deployed to protect players at training.
Although this was not so long ago, for Clement it feels like a different lifetime.
“There have been big changes. When you’ve been fighting against relegation, or stuck in mid-table … now it’s nothing like it was in previous years,” Chantome said. “PSG is ambitious, has different objectives and wants to win titles.”
PSG is reportedly close to signing central midfielder Thiago Motta from Inter Milan. Although getting a starting place in PSG’s team is only going to get harder for Chantome, he bears no grudge.
“I like all these changes. I’ve seen a lot of things here and now it’s looking good,” said Chantome, who has played 191 games for PSG. “It’s a pleasure to see this happening to the club.”
Like PSG, Montpellier has won its last three games and will be looking to keep the pressure on with a win at struggling Nice on Saturday.
Marseille, meanwhile, has won five and drawn one of its last six league games, to climb up to seventh place following a terrible start to the season.
Marseille is nine points behind PSG and, to stay in contention, must win Sunday’s match away to Rennes, which is one point ahead of Marseille in fifth spot. Lyon is fourth and defending champion Lille is third, seven points behind PSG.
Coach Didier Deschamps may start Brazilian striker Brandao, who scored in last Sunday’s French Cup win against Le Havre — his first goal since returning to Marseille on loan from Gremio.
“It was moving to feel the support of the crowd,” Brandao said. “I’m also a Marseille fan, so I feel like I’m coming home.”
In March last year, an investigating judge filed preliminary charges of rape against Brandao but released him from custody pending further investigation. He was authorized to leave France but required to attend any judicial hearings.
A woman alleged she was raped by Brandao after they returned from a nightclub. He says they had consensual sex.
When asked about the court case this week, Brandao would only say “I’m here to talk about what happens on the field.”
In Saturday’s other matches, it is: Auxerre vs. Nancy; Lorient vs. Sochaux; Lyon vs. Dijon; Toulouse vs. Caen, and Lille vs. Saint-Etienne.
Olivier Kapo returns for Auxerre, eight years after leaving the club.
The 31-year-old forward, who joined this week, scored 19 goals in 120 league games in his previous spell with Auxerre, playing the provider role in a fruitful partnership with Djibril Cisse that lasted for six seasons.
Evian hosts Bordeaux, and Valenciennes faces Ajaccio in Sunday’s other games.
