Mel Brennan
31 Jan 2006, 01:51 PM
Pauleta - 'We are not one of the big guns' (http://www.sportinglife.com/football/overseas/france/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=international_feed/06/01/25/SOCCER_Fra-Paris_St_Germain_Pauleta.html&TEAMHD=france)
Paris St Germain captain Pauleta has launched a scathing attack on what he perceives to be unrealistic expectations at the Parc des Princes club.
The Portugal international claims comparisons with four-time defending Ligue 1 champions Lyon are unfounded as PSG are well short of Les Gones' level.
"What have PSG won in the past 10 years?" he said.
"Who are PSG? We are not one of the big guns. The top team in France is Lyon. The others are all the same level right down to 10th or 12th spot."
PSG are currently fifth in the table but a whopping 17 points behind Gerard Houllier's table-topping Lyon side.
"Our aim every season is just to make sure the team qualifies for European competition the following year," added Pauleta.
"Right now it looks as if we are on course for achieving that objective and I do think that our team will finish in the top four, because we are good enough to do that."
Pauleta believes the team's main problem is their mentality.
"Even if we go out and buy two or three players it won't make PSG a great team again," he added.
"We need to remain calm and ensure that nobody steps out of line. We also need to change the way we interact with the press. Here everyone talks to them.
"At Lyon no-one does, except after the matches.
"We will see at the end of the season where we stand in the table, but if we are still five or six points behind the top of the table, then yes, it will have been a disappointing season for me."
PSG's away form has been the key to their disappointing form with Pauleta insistent they have a soft core when they embark on their travels.
"Only a few teams manage to win their away matches in Ligue 1," he said.
"The difference between us and the other teams is that the others draw and we lose.
"However, on Saturday against Strasbourg (who are languishing in the relegation zone), we have no right to lose.
"If we want to keep competing for places at the top of the table, we must not lose any more away matches."
Paris St Germain captain Pauleta has launched a scathing attack on what he perceives to be unrealistic expectations at the Parc des Princes club.
The Portugal international claims comparisons with four-time defending Ligue 1 champions Lyon are unfounded as PSG are well short of Les Gones' level.
"What have PSG won in the past 10 years?" he said.
"Who are PSG? We are not one of the big guns. The top team in France is Lyon. The others are all the same level right down to 10th or 12th spot."
PSG are currently fifth in the table but a whopping 17 points behind Gerard Houllier's table-topping Lyon side.
"Our aim every season is just to make sure the team qualifies for European competition the following year," added Pauleta.
"Right now it looks as if we are on course for achieving that objective and I do think that our team will finish in the top four, because we are good enough to do that."
Pauleta believes the team's main problem is their mentality.
"Even if we go out and buy two or three players it won't make PSG a great team again," he added.
"We need to remain calm and ensure that nobody steps out of line. We also need to change the way we interact with the press. Here everyone talks to them.
"At Lyon no-one does, except after the matches.
"We will see at the end of the season where we stand in the table, but if we are still five or six points behind the top of the table, then yes, it will have been a disappointing season for me."
PSG's away form has been the key to their disappointing form with Pauleta insistent they have a soft core when they embark on their travels.
"Only a few teams manage to win their away matches in Ligue 1," he said.
"The difference between us and the other teams is that the others draw and we lose.
"However, on Saturday against Strasbourg (who are languishing in the relegation zone), we have no right to lose.
"If we want to keep competing for places at the top of the table, we must not lose any more away matches."