Clement Chantome: PSG’s quiet man whose claims are getting louder

Posted by Jonathan Johnson

There have been a number of poignant moments since Paris-Saint Germain sealed a first Ligue 1 title in 19 years with a 1-0 victory at Lyon on Sunday. The wild celebrations on the Stade Gerland pitch, the thronging masses that greeted the team at Place Trocadero that witnessed celebration turn to aberration, David Beckham's retirement and Zlatan Ibrahimovic's dedication of the title victory to the late Nick Broad. All will figure prominently when the occasion is reflected on. But one moment was particularly touching, and although it will likely get lost in time because of the scenes that marred the following day's festivities, it will remain with many PSG fans for years to come.

Continue Reading...

Beckham: Au revoir, tout le monde

Posted by Jonathan Johnson

David Beckham's appearance against Lyon at the weekend may have been a fleeting one, but as Paris Saint-Germain secured the Ligue 1 title with a 1-0 victory at the Stade de Gerland, the iconic midfielder became the first Englishman in history to win the league championship in four countries. It will also be his last. On Thursday, Beckham confirmed what the football world and PSG have expected for some time. The 38-year-old announced his retirement from the game after a short spell with the capital club to end what has been a stellar career.

Continue Reading...

Violence mars celebrations but more positives than negatives after PSG title parade

Posted by Jonathan Johnson

Monday's title celebrations were supposed to be an event that captured the attention of the whole of Europe as the fans of Paris Saint-Germain gathered to celebrate the capital club's first Ligue 1 trophy in 19 years. The long wait finally over thanks to Sunday's victory over Lyon, there was an outpouring of emotion in the capital as PSG fans arrived in their thousands to share the team's joy. - PSG's 19-year wait for a third title is over - Violence erupts as PSG celebrate - PSG reject approach for Ancelotti Unfortunately the joy turned to chaos as violent clashes marred the colourful festivities from Trocadero to the Champs-Elysees, the Eiffel Tower and the Parc des Princes, injuring some and resulting in a number of arrests.

Continue Reading...

PSG's 19-year wait for a third title is over

Posted by Jonathan Johnson

Ten years ago, almost to the day (one day more in fact), Paris Saint-Germain travelled to the Stade Gerland and suffered a 1-0 defeat to Lyon that crowned Les Gones champions for the second time in their history. That was 2003 and their domination of the French domestic scene continued for another five seasons. - Ligue 1: PSG clinch title in Lyon - Ancelotti urged to stay at PSG Now 2013, PSG's 19-year wait for a third Ligue 1 title came to an end at the home of their old foes on Sunday. Jeremy Menez's 53rd-minute winner was enough for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in a largely unspectacular encounter.

Continue Reading...

Only win will do as PSG head to Lyon in search of third title

Posted by Jonathan Johnson

At the start of the season, and even at the start of the year, once Paris Saint-Germain had recovered from a slight wobble in November and into December, most fans of the capital club would have expected their match at Lyon Sunday to be a dead rubber three games from the end of the season. Now, after Marseille’s 2-1 win over Toulouse Saturday at the Stade Velodrome that secures PSG’s most hated rivals a berth in next season’s Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti's side travel to the Stade Gerland needing a win on Sunday.

Continue Reading...

PSG dominate Ligue 1 end of season awards nominations

Posted by Jonathan Johnson

With the club on the brink of a first Ligue 1 title since 1994, Paris Saint-Germain dominated the end of season Union Nationale de Footballeurs Professionnels (UNFP) awards nominations with six players included in the four top-flight categories. Those awards include Ligue 1's player of the year, young player of the year, goalkeeper of the year and coach of the year. That is three nominations more than the second best-represented side, Coupe de la Ligue winners Saint-Etienne. - PSG trio up for Ligue 1 Player of the Year The decisions will be announced on May 19 and with PSG charging towards a first title in 19 years, the capital club look set to dominate the gala event.

Continue Reading...

Lack of discipline a real issue at PSG

Posted by Jonathan Johnson

The bad-tempered 1-0 win over Evian a fortnight ago should have been an isolated incident, but following Paris Saint-Germain's 1-1 draw with Valenciennes on Sunday, it has now become a major problem for the capital club. Captain Thiago Silva saw red on the pitch before halftime for raising his hands to referee Alexandre Castro's chest, a controversial enough decision, but it was the actions of PSG's sporting director Leonardo that should be of greater concern to the club. - LFP to review Leonardo 'ref attack' - Leonardo: Officials holding back PSG After the match, the Brazilian went to dispute his compatriot's red card with Castro and video footage shows him shoving the 42-year-old when the Frenchman refused to discuss the decision with him.

Continue Reading...

PSG salvage draw but tempers boil over once more

Posted by Jonathan Johnson

Paris Saint-Germain will have to wait at least another week until they can potentially be crowned Ligue 1 champions officially, but what was supposed to be a title procession heading into the weekend actually turned out to be a farce. Alex's late header salvaged a deserved draw for Carlo Ancelotti's side, but confusion appeared to reign as PSG failed to hit top gear against a mid-table Valenciennes team. After the debacle in Evian last week, you'd think that the capital club would take it upon themselves to ensure that the same ugly scenes would not be repeated again anytime soon.

Continue Reading...

Champagne on ice vs. Valenciennes but title almost guaranteed

Posted by Jonathan Johnson

Marseille's 2-1 win over Bastia at the Stade Velodrome on Saturday stops Paris Saint-Germain from being able to celebrate an historic first Ligue 1 title in 19 years as early as Sunday. But in reality, the party will still go on should Carlo Ancelotti's side beat Valenciennes in their penultimate home match of the season. Barring a run of victories, a massive goal swing and complete capitulation from the capital club over the last four games of the season, PSG victory at the Parc des Princes would all but seal Le Championnat.

Continue Reading...

Who is best choice to be PSG's project manager?

Posted by Jonathan Johnson

On Monday, The Telegraph in England reported that Arsene Wenger has been persuaded to leave Arsenal after 17 years to take over at Paris Saint-Germain. The following day the capital club had supposedly given up on their pursuit of the Frenchman. But following Jose Mourinho's strongest hint yet that he will leave Real Madrid this summer after Los Merengues' Champions League loss to Borussia Dortmund, the wheel of speculation will no doubt start spinning once more as Les Parisiens look increasingly likely to be under new leadership next season.

Continue Reading...

Lack of discipline spoils PSG win

Posted by Jonathan Johnson

Although ugly scenes marred the end of Paris Saint-Germain's 1-0 win over Evian in Annecy on Sunday night, the result leaves Carlo Ancelotti's side on the verge of their first Ligue 1 title since 1994. They can sew up that crown with victory over Valenciennes at the Parc des Princes in six days' time, providing that bitter rivals Marseille fail to beat Bastia at the Stade Velodrome. Javier Pastore's solitary goal was enough to secure a win that ended a tumultuous second half of the week on a high, but that minor positive was marred by shocking scenes at the end of the clash at the Parc des Sports d'Annecy.

Continue Reading...

PSG looking to future without Ancelotti?

Posted by Jonathan Johnson

With so many transfer rumours flying around the Parc des Princes and speculation regarding a few members of the Paris Saint-Germain squad, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, sporting director Leonardo had to come out and say something. -Reports: Ancelotti edging closer to Real Madrid He reaffirmed on Wednesday that he will remain at the club next season as will the Swede, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marco Verratti, two others linked with an exit from the capital club. Crucially though, it is the man whose future the Brazilian did not confirm that will have the capital club’s fans approaching the summer with a sense of trepidation.

Continue Reading...