Why Lucas Digne Is Under Most Pressure for PSG Following Win over Nice

Handed the rarest of chances to impress in his team's 1-0 Ligue 1 win over OGC Nice at the Parc des Princes on Saturday, Paris Saint-Germain’s Lucas Digne will be disappointed that he didn't stake a claim for a regular first-team berth.

Started in place of Maxwell, who was rested ahead of Wednesday’s trip to face Digne’s former side, Lille OSC, the France international put in an uncharacteristically poor performance. Nothing seemed to go right for the 21-year-old in attack or defence, and his display will have further underlined the Brazilian’s status as first choice left-back.

Kin Cheung/Associated Press

It has not always been that way this season; Digne actually started the campaign ahead of Maxwell, following the former Selecao star’s involvement in this summer’s FIFA World Cup on home soil. However, the 33-year-old’s greater consistency and reliability means that he remains an indispensable part of Laurent Blanc’s side.

Because of Maxwell’s decision to retire from international duty, Digne’s situation has become more difficult in the French capital. The PSG No. 17’s international retirement means he needs rotating less often, which limits his young protege’s chances to step in.

A limited number of opportunities to impress means Digne must take each and every one that comes his way in order to put some pressure on Maxwell and also to keep himself in international contention.

While it has not happened yet, there will come a time—if not now, then soon—when the former Lille man finds his international place under threat. PSG team-mate Yohan Cabaye is in a similar situation, though he is seven years older than the PSG No. 21 and looks likely to leave the Parc des Princes in January because of it.

While such a move would not be advisable for Digne this winter, a summer change of scenery—likely on loan—is a more real possibility.

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Following L’Equipe’s news (h/t Get French Football News) that Maxwell’s agent, Mino Raiola, is in talks with PSG to extend his client’s contract with the French champions, things do not look like they will be getting any easier for Digne any time soon.

That makes poor performances, such as the one against Nice, all the more costly.

Digne’s progress has not yet totally stalled, but it was clear in the 1-0 win on Saturday that he needs more regular minutes—not just the odd game here and there.

The pressure on the youngster to stake his claim for increased involvement was too much during the Nice encounter, particularly with him knowing he is firmly behind Maxwell in the pecking order.

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France coach Didier Deschamps appears keen to keep Digne in and around the squad as he attempts to put together a group capable of winning the 2016 UEFA European Championship on home soil, but there is only so long he will be able to do it if the player is not featuring at all for PSG.

As he did with Mamadou Sakho when he was not getting enough playing time in the capital, Deschamps might try to put some pressure on Digne to resolve his situation by leaving him out of the France squad early in the coming year.

If that happens, then it might be time to make a loan move elsewhere in search of first-team football ahead of the Euros. Either way, though, it does not excuse the poor performance against Nice, which was comfortably his worst since arriving in the capital in 2013.

There is no question that Digne has the ability to put greater pressure on Maxwell, not least because of the latter’s age. However, following the Nice game, the Frenchman will have to knuckle down and work even harder to be handed another chance any time soon.