Tensions are high as Paris Saint-Germain head to Normandy today desperate for a win to keep in touch with the Ligue 1 leaders after a fourth draw in six league games at the weekend.
The two-time defending champions are three points behind Olympique de Marseille and they need maximum points against Stade Malherbe Caen Calvados to stay close to Marcelo Bielsa’s table-toppers, who could have pulled further ahead at Champagne outfit Stade de Reims yesterday.
Laurent Blanc’s side were held to their third 1-1 draw at home against Olympique Lyonnais at the weekend as Marseille turned on the style in a 3-0 home win over Stade Rennais.
Photo: AFP
Girondins de Bordeaux and AS Saint-Etienne, equal on 13 points with Marseille, but behind on goal-difference, are to go head-to-head tomorrow in the southeast of France.
The situation may not be critical for the Parisians, who are in fifth position and are unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions, but a win at midtable Caen ahead of another Ligue 1 trip to Toulouse on Saturday would be a timely boost before a visit from Spanish giants Barcelona to the Parc des Princes in UEFA Champions League action next week.
Blanc had put the drop in form down to the staggered return of players from holidays after FIFA World Cup finals duty, but also admitted that there was a certain “tension” within the team.
Even Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, scorer of half of the Parisians goals this season, has become human since his hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Saint-Etienne on Aug. 31.
“When a club fails to get good results, there is a sense of unease,” Blanc said.
“The players are very disappointed, the staff are very disappointed. We are not at our best form. It leads to tensions in the team,” he said.
“We know the rules of the game. When you’re in a club like PSG, you need results,” said Blanc, who lamented the lack of maturity of a team that led three times, only to be caught.
“We’re realistic we’re not on our top game. Caen will be quite difficult, we’re taking nothing for granted and need a win,” he added.
Ibrahimovic’s drop in form mirrors that of his entire team, with Edinson Cavani and Zoumana Camara getting the team out of a potentially tricky situations with their two goals in the past two games.
The absence of Blanc’s former deputy coach Claude Makelele, who is now coaching SC Bastia, could be a reason for the lack of morale in the dressing room, along with Brazilian captain Thiago Silva’s absence through injury.
In midfield, Yohan Cabaye could benefit from the suspension of Italian international midfielder Marco Verratti, but Blanc could opt for Javier Pastore against Caen, who have seven points from their six games.
Silva is still recovering from his hamstring injury, with the defense likely to be assured by the Marquinhos and David Luiz partnership.
LOSC Lille Metropole, who are alone in fourth on 12 points, travel to OGC Nice, while Montpellier Herault, joint fifth, host last season’s runners-up AS Monaco, who are looking for a second consecutive victory to move further away from the relegation zone.
Nantes travel to SC Bastia and Lorient to Lyon.
At the bottom of the Ligue 1 table, Evian Thonon Gaillard are looking for their first win of the season at home to Racing Club de Lens, who are themselves just a point clear of the drop zone, while En Avant de Guingamp host Metz.
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