PSG Boss Laurent Blanc Shouldn't Be Under Pressure but Results Must Improve Fast

Having won Ligue 1 last season and guided Paris Saint-Germain to within three minutes of the Champions League semi-finals, you could reasonably assume there would be much scrutiny on Laurent Blanc or conjecture about his job just a couple of months later.

You'd seemingly be wrong, though; a late 1-1 draw against Lyon at the weekend saw FourFourTwo claim that the draw "[added] to the pressure" on the PSG boss and was "likely to lead to further speculation surrounding Blanc's position."

Any talk of him losing his job might look like an overreaction at this stage, but the normal rules don't apply at PSG. Despite the issues, in very short order the established and expected ranking in Ligue 1 might be restored with a busy week ahead.

Six Games, Under Pressure?

First things first, PSG are unbeaten so far this season. That's right: an unbeaten manager is being made out to be under pressure.

Jacques Brinon/Associated Press

PSG won the Super Cup, drew away to Ajax in their opening Champions League group-stage game and have won two, drawn four in domestic league play. Fair enough, it would be expected that the reigning champions take more than two wins in six, but three of the draws have been away from home and the most recent, the Lyon match, saw an 84th-minute equaliser.

Claude Paris/Associated Press

There was also a convincing 5-0 victory over Saint-Etienne to enjoy just a few short weeks ago, while last season's runners-up Monaco are looking a non-entity in this season's title race.

As things stand, PSG are just three points off first place Marseille and have the third-best defensive record in Ligue 1. It hasn't been a tremendous start, but it is far from a devastating, season-ending crisis.

Summer Effects

What reasons can there be for the lethargic opening, then? Several, perhaps. B/R's French football expert Jonathan Johnson explained more in a conversation about the Parisian side:

"Certain key players like Blaise Matuidi, Yohan Cabaye, Thiago Silva, David Luiz and Ezequiel Lavezzi all had deep World Cup runs this summer, and it's not really Blanc's fault if they are taking time to recover full fitness. Besides, he asked for summer reinforcements and didn't receive them. Without the players he identified arriving, it is difficult for Blanc to improve PSG and construct a perfect XI to suit his preferred playing style. Was it Blanc's choice to sign Luiz at such a high cost? Unlikely."

Elsewhere, Thiago Motta seems to have dramatically and alarmingly regressed in form and mobility since last season, and the reliance on Zlatan Ibrahimovic isn't being decreased any time soon. As Julien Laurens notes on ESPN FC, "when Ibrahimovic is not having a good day, the team isn't either. They're built around the Swede and are dependent on him."

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Blanc also spoke of PSG's mental & physical fatigue. Branded Zlatan "an important player & leader" on topic of Ibra's recent poor form.

— Jonathan Johnson (@Jon_LeGossip) September 23, 2014"

A Week is a Long Time...

With Ligue 1 continuing apace this week, there is an immediate opportunity for PSG to show they are still going to be the dominant force in the top flight in France.

Peter Dejong/Associated Press

A midweek fixture against Caen comes before a weekend trip to Toulouse, both away from home and both of whom are below PSG in the table. Six points there and, with second-placed Bordeaux facing third-placed Saint-Etienne on Thursday, PSG could very quickly move back up the table.

At this stage, with questions surrounding the dressing room harmony and ability of Blanc to manage the team effectively, performances may be as important as results for Blanc to stop the column inches focusing on his lack of job security.

Two wins ahead of the Barcelona Champions League tie would be the best possible answer to those lingering doubts.

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