Le Guen - the difference

Mel Brennan · May 15, 2007

Eurosport, here:
http://www.eurosport.com/football/ligue-1/2006-2007/sport_sto1181693.shtml

A nightmare season is about to end for Paris Saint Germain, but it could have been so much worse had Paul Le Guen not taken matters in his own hands, says eurosport.com's French football analyst Louis Laffitte.

When former Rangers manager Paul Le Guen took charge of PSG in mid-January, the club was facing a disastrous situation. Coach Guy Lacombe left the French capital with the club lying in 17th place following a first half to the season which had been plagued by all sorts of problems, ranging from the sacking of French international Vikash Dhorasoo to the death of a supporter in November.

Though it is fair to say that Lacombe was not responsible for all that happened before his departure, his man-management of the players was undoubtedly poor. The former Sochaux boss had feuds with all the leaders of the squad - Mario Yepes, Bonaventure Kalou, Jerome Rothen or Pedro Miguel Pauleta - and quality football at the Parc des Princes was scarce to non-existent. The task that awaited Le Guen was huge.

Four months later, the club has ensured its future in the top flight of French football. But do not be mistaken, this no miracle. It is simply the result of Le Guen's clever handling of the situation, which proved that the supporters were right to call for the return of their former idol.

As a statement of intent, his first decision was to bring Rothen back into the starting line-up, after an enforced absence under Lacombe had nearly led to the French international leaving the club. Le Guen also signed two players he knew well from his glory days at Lyon: forward Peguy Luyindula and midfielder Jeremy Clement.

Unfortunately, the latter sustained an injury - which led to a two-month layoff on his first game for the club - and the second was completely off-colour after six months on the sidelines at Levante, but their impact was soon to become evident.

However, everything did not work at once. After a slow start, two wins over Monaco (4-2) and Nancy (0-3) in February gave the illusion that PSG was close to recovery. But they were followed by four straight defeats, and the club hit its lowest ebb. Indeed, on April 1, as the players stepped onto the pitch for their 30th game of the season away to second-placed Lens, the club was bottom of the league. Two hours later, a famous 2-1 win had marked the turning point of PSG's season. And Le Guen could finally begin to see the fruits of his work.

Very protective of his players, just like Alex Ferguson at Manchester United or Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, his calm attitude contrasted with those of his predecessors - Lacombe and Vahid Halilhodzic - who were more accustomed to shout at their players from the bench. "It's true that he is calmer," defender Sylvain Armand said. "And for some players, in the tense sporting moments we've been through, it turned out to be very positive."

Tactically too, Le Guen brought about changes. Where Lacombe changed the system and the players every weekend, the former Lyon boss chose to stick with a 4-4-2 formation that gave the team a stronger defensive balance, bringing confidence back into the squad.

When he arrived, Le Guen had promised that he would not base his side on big stars, and so he took Marcelo Gallardo out of team, and put Pauleta on the bench for away fixtures, favouring the pace of Amara Diane upfront. As proof that something had truly changed, there were no complaints whatsoever. "Everyone realised that it was useless to play the individual card, that it would lead us straight to disaster," explained Rothen.

And so, following the Lens game, PSG went five games unbeaten to secure their spot in the top flight, along the way showing a unity and a quality of play that had long since deserted the Parc. Lyuindula is scoring goals galore, the incorporation of Clement in midfield has stabilised the team, Rothen is majestic on his left flank, Pauleta is enjoying his best spell for months, and PSG have been considered by many as the best team of the final part of the season.

But perhaps the most difficult task still awaits Le Guen. Called to save the club, a feat he has accomplished in some style, the supporters now want to see him bring PSG back to the summit of French football. That's a big ask, but Le Guen is ready to tackle it next season. Calmly, of course.
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Indeed. I must admit I had VERY little confidence that this squad could turn it around; no doubt that Le Guen was central to that transformation.

Arsenal_pwns_all · May 15, 2007

I always felt that Rangers should have given him more time before sacking him. Now it would be interesting to see what he could do next season and whether he can perform without Lyon's money.

Bilbao2Brooklyn · May 15, 2007

Interesting.

What would realistic hopes or expectations under Le Guen next season.

ilv2 · May 15, 2007

upper half of the table. He is great, but unless we splash out some cash to bring in some quality defenders and a good midfielder to partner clement (chantome is still too young) then we won't be getting a european spot. The recruitment has been so bad in recent seasons no wonder the board is unwilling to splash out the cash. Perhaps they'll place more confidence in PLG, especially considering the success of peguy and clement, but then again he's also known for having very peculiar transfer targets.

Inara · May 15, 2007

I think Le Guen is a good tactician, but I don't think he's the best judge of talent. He wasn't responsible for Lyon's transfers, and at Rangers he made some dubious purchases.

If PSG could strengthen their administration, perhaps get better technical staff that provides continuity, that would really help.

Bilbao2Brooklyn · May 16, 2007

I will be watching next season.

I am unfamiliar with team as currently constructed, who are the good/ bad players? Did the team have offensive or defensive woes (or both) this season?

ilv2 · May 16, 2007

the transfer thread should cover some of the question. And LOL yes we had a lot of both woes. Pauleta struggled this season, and our defense has been atrocious, gaining notoriety as a backline that inevitably capitulates no matter what. To summarize roughly:

bad: cisse (very mediocre at paris, cannot shield the backline for ****), kalou (inconsistent, expensive, with an inflated ego), mendy (mediocre, inflated ego, and makes too much about his speed). There are some other flops that should go, but they aren't first team players who have really wrecked us this season.

good: rothen (on our most skilled players), armand, yepes (expensive though), diane, and landreau (without him, we would be dead last). The others like gallardo and rodrigo can be better, and shouldn't be sold.