Power Ranking Every PSG Player from the 2014-15 Ligue 1 Season
Paris Saint-Germain’s 3-2 win over Stade de Reims at the Parc des Princes last Saturday completed the French champions’ Ligue 1 duties for the season.
Laurent Blanc’s men secured a third straight French crown with a 2-1 win away at Montpellier HSC the week before, but the victory over Les Remois completed the feat in style and set a new club record of nine consecutive wins in Le Championnat.
All that stands between PSG and the first-ever domestic treble in the history of French football is Ligue 2 outfit AJ Auxerre, who await Les Parisiens at Stade de France next weekend.
With Ligue 1 now out of the way, here is a power ranking list of all of the capital club’s players in the league from this season.
23. Youth Academy Talents
1 of 23
While it would be unfair to rank any of them higher than players who have comfortably featured for more minutes than Presnel Kimpembe, Jean-Kevin Augustin and Jeremi Kimmakon this season, the three are among the brightest emerging talents in the PSG youth academy.
The chances are we will be seeing much more from them next season, be it at Parc des Princes or out on loan.
22. Yohan Cabaye
2 of 23
It has been a bad season for Yohan Cabaye.
Admittedly, the France international has been unlucky with injury. However, even when fit and given the chance to impress, the 29-year-old has largely failed.
With the midfield situation at PSG unlikely to improve for Cabaye next season, chances are he will leave the club this summer.
21. Lucas Digne
3 of 23
Like Cabaye, it has been a poor campaign for young left-back Lucas Digne.
The France international has failed to overtake veteran Brazilian Maxwell in the pecking order, and the former Lille OSC man is now expected to leave, at least on a temporary loan basis, this summer.
20. Clement Chantome
4 of 23
Before joining Girondins de Bordeaux in January, French midfielder Clement Chantome—raised by PSG for 15 years—gave everything when asked to play.
The 27-year-old even managed to score a rare goal in his final appearance for his beloved club.
19. Zoumana Camara
5 of 23
The Reims victory likely brought the curtain down on Zoumana Camara’s long playing career and an eight-year association with PSG as a player.
Although the 36-year-old was a peripheral figure throughout the campaign, he managed to step in and contribute when injuries and suspensions tested Blanc’s squad depth in defence.
18. Jean-Christophe Bahebeck
6 of 23
Loaned out to Valenciennes last season, Jean-Christophe Bahebeck was not expected to feature much for PSG this season. In fact, he was expected to be moved on before the campaign started.
A good run of pre-season form saw him impress, and the Frenchman earned a new contract and started the term well.
However, Bahebeck was not given the opportunities his impressive early-season cameos deserved.
17. Gregory Van Der Wiel
7 of 23
Last season was excellent for right-back Gregory van der Wiel.
However, the Netherlands international went backwards this season and was unable to rediscover the same form.
The 27-year-old is now expected to leave this summer with no contract renewal on its way.
After such an excellent last season, the Dutchman was expected to show further progress. However, he has been largely unconvincing and his future is uncertain.
16. Salvatore Sirigu
8 of 23
Like Van Der Wiel, goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu’s season has not been the best either, and the Italy international has been less reliable than he was last term.
The Azzurri star’s automatic starter role is under considerable scrutiny heading into the summer.
15. Nicolas Douchez
9 of 23
Although not given as many opportunities to impress in Ligue 1 as he has in the domestic cups, substitute goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez did well when called upon.
The veteran Frenchman was needed when Sirigu picked up a minor injury towards the end of the season with the title race still alive.
14. Serge Aurier
10 of 23
It has been a solid debut campaign for PSG’s Ivory Coast international right-back Serge Aurier.
Despite being disrupted by a late start to pre-season after the FIFA World Cup, injuries and then the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, the 22-year-old has started to make the starting role his own.
13. Thiago Motta
11 of 23
While it has not been his finest season, Thiago Motta remains an integral influence for this PSG side.
The Italy international is one of Blanc’s leaders and the 32-year-old could sign another contract this summer.
12. Ezequiel Lavezzi
12 of 23
It has been a mediocre season for Ezequiel Lavezzi in Paris.
El Pocho has contributed some important goals, notably at the end of the season.
However, once again, the Argentina international has not delivered enough in front of goal.
Lavezzi’s no-show for the mid-season break in Morocco may well have cost him dear, with PSG set to move him on this summer in favour of a more effective left-sided option.
11. Adrien Rabiot
13 of 23
Considering that he spent the first half of the season frozen out of the first team because of a contract dispute, it has been a good 2015 so far for Adrien Rabiot.
The 20-year-old French starlet has enjoyed regular appearances across all competitions and can be satisfied with how Blanc has utilised him.
Further progress will be expected next season, but the midfielder signed off in style in Ligue 1 with a goal in the win over Reims.
10. David Luiz
14 of 23
As far as debut seasons go, David Luiz’s PSG career has got off to a promising start.
Admittedly there have been a few concerning moments, but the Brazilian international has done well to cope with various injury concerns, post-World Cup fatigue and adapting to a new team in a new league.
Luiz has popped up with some important goals—notably in the UEFA Champions League—and the 28-year-old has become immensely popular with the PSG supporters.
9. Edinson Cavani
15 of 23
Had the Ligue 1 season ended in April and not May, Edinson Cavani may well have featured towards the bottom of this list.
However, a late flurry of goalscoring form has seen El Matador of old return, and the Uruguayan has given PSG fans a taste of what they might be able to expect next season.
Cavani was a key figure in Les Parisiens’ Champions League campaign but needs to show his end-of-campaign form over a prolonged period of time.
It is encouraging to see the 28-year-old’s confidence flowing once again.
8. Lucas Moura
16 of 23
Up until he got injured in the Ligue 1 draw with Stade Malherbe Caen earlier this year, Lucas Moura was arguably PSG’s best player this season.
Surgery effectively ended his season and put paid to his Copa America hopes as well, but the Brazilian should still look back fondly on a campaign where plenty of progress was made.
7. Marquinhos
17 of 23
Another Brazilian who was at one point PSG’s most important player this season is versatile defender Marquinhos.
The 21-year-old filled in at right-back as well as playing in his preferred central role and performed efficiently in both.
Now one of Blanc’s key players and one of the youngest elements of the side, the South American justified the capital club tying him down to a new deal.
6. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
18 of 23
It might not have been a vintage Zlatan Ibrahimovic season, but the talismanic Swede remains an important figure for Blanc.
The 33-year-old has not been as prolific this term as he has been in the past, but the PSG No. 10 still finished the season as Les Parisiens’ top Ligue 1 scorer.
Ibrahimovic has been playing with injury since early in the season and will benefit from a summer of rest.
5. Thiago Silva
19 of 23
The season started off badly for PSG captain Thiago Silva, with the Brazil international getting injured in a pre-season friendly.
After taking his time to recover from that injury, Silva embarked upon a strong run of form and put in some of his best performances to date.
The South American has still had a few wobbly moments, but generally he has been extremely reliable.
4. Blaise Matuidi
20 of 23
Once again, Blaise Matuidi has been one of PSG’s most consistent performers this season.
The France international, like many of his team-mates, struggled after the World Cup. However, the 28-year-old overcame that spell of jaded form and has gone from strength to strength this campaign.
Matuidi has also chipped in with some important goals, notably down the final stretch.
3. Maxwell
21 of 23
It has been another impressive season from veteran left-back Maxwell. The old stager is evergreen and his reliability has put paid to Lucas Digne’s chances of usurping him in Blanc’s starting XI.
The 33-year-old has contributed some important goals, and the South American’s one-year contract extension has been more than justified.
2. Javier Pastore
22 of 23
After two desperately poor seasons with PSG, Javier Pastore has finally rediscovered the form that he showed in his first campaign in France.
El Flaco has been reborn and is by far and away the team’s most improved player this term.
The Argentina international has been one of the French champions’ most influential players and has given Blanc the creative boost the team was often missing in Le President’s first season in charge.
1. Marco Verratti
23 of 23
Without a doubt PSG’s key player this season. Without Marco Verratti at the heart of the midfield, this team would not be on course for the first-ever domestic treble in French football history.
Although there is no doubt that Pastore and the Italian have been Les Parisiens’ best players, the gap between the pair is still fairly sizeable.
The Azzurri star is simply irreplaceable in the French capital, and Verratti can also perhaps consider himself unlucky not to have been voted Ligue 1 Player of the year.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
