Four PSG Players Who Need to Step Up If They Want to Be Champions of Ligue 1
At the start of the season, it was unthinkable that Paris Saint-Germain would finish 2014 down in third place. The Ligue 1 title holders have a lot of work to do to transform into championship material, while some players have more work ahead of them than others.
There has been plenty of praise for the likes of Marco Verratti, Lucas Moura and Javier Pastore but a number of players in Laurent Blanc’s squad need to show more if their club is to overtake both Marseille and Lyon before the end of the season.
Here are four players who need to step up if PSG are to be crowned Ligue 1 champions this season.
Thiago Silva
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The Brazilian centre-back is PSG’s captain and one of the most respected players in the dressing room, but his crown is slipping.
Since the end of last season the defender’s performances have been far from his best and it’s starting to affect results.
Playing beside David Luiz or Marquinhos, Silva will always be either the most talented or most experienced of the defensive duo, so now he has to cast aside any disappointments of being stripped of Brazil’s captaincy and find a way to recapture the form that made him look unbeatable in Ligue 1.
During his first 18 months in Paris, he looked impenetrable and was easily the best defender in the country, possibly in Europe. That’s the sort of form PSG need and should be demanding from their captain.
Yohan Cabaye
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It has been a long 12 months for Yohan Cabaye since he left Newcastle United for €25 million. No longer is he the star of his team, and he has almost become a comedy sidekick.
The alarming drop in the France international’s form has been sad and disappointing to watch.
Cabaye was supposed to push PSG’s starting midfield trio, making them stronger in all competitions. That hasn’t happened, and what we now see is a shadow of the player fondly remembered by fans of Newcastle and Lille.
With the deterioration of Thiago Motta and possible departures of both Adrien Rabiot and Clement Chantome, via Chisanga Malata of The Daily Star and the Express (h/t Sam Jordan of Squawka) respectively, Cabaye is going to have to shake off the cobwebs and play himself back into form if PSG are to compete in both the league and Champions League.
Blaise Matuidi
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For the last couple of years, Blaise Matuidi has been one of the most important players in the PSG squad.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and others would get the headlines for scoring the goals and creating chances, but without the hard work, lung-busting runs and endeavour of Matuidi, PSG wouldn’t have been as successful.
This campaign hasn’t been as successful for the France international. Returning late from the World Cup and a recent wrist injury have hampered him somewhat, but uncharacteristically, he hasn’t been that all-energy presence of seasons past.
If Matuidi can start 2015 strong and get back to being the impressive specimen that saw him rival Ibrahimovic for being PSG’s most important player, PSG will be back on top of the league before the end of the season.
Edinson Cavani
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Last season, as PSG finished nine points ahead of Monaco to lift their second consecutive Ligue 1 title, Edinson Cavani scored 16 league goals and looked to have settled into Parisian lifestyle.
His failure to kick on this season has been well-documented, and his performances have been disappointing at times.
After a terrible performance against Monaco at the Parc des Princes, Cavani responded by scoring seven goals in seven games and looked to have cast off the demons.
However, he has faded into the background again, with only three goals in eight games; he is goalless in his last four.
Ibrahimovic can no longer be called upon to perform week in, week out; injuries and wear and tear have taken their toll on the Swede. Cavani needs to step up and be PSG’s main attacking threat, if not, they may not finish the season as champions.
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