French football has been in the shadow of other European leagues for far too long.
Lyon did reach the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2010 and Marseille were UEFA Cup finalists in 2004 but too many times, French sides have flattered to deceive on Europe’s top stage.
This was underlined last year by Marseille’s sheer negative approach in trying to beat a vulnerable Arsenal at home in the group stages of the Champions League and Lyon’s shock exit last season on penalties to the unfancied APOEL Nicosia.
However, a revolution may be about to change this in Paris. Paris St. Germain will be back in Europe’s premier club competition for the first time since 2004 and they mean business.
With a proven winning manager, a pitfall of money and a wealth of talent, they are threatening to become serious players in continental football.
Ancelotti’s latest mission
PSG have gone through peaks and troughs in the last 30 years. Previously, they have won two French league titles, eight French cups and won the Cup Winners Cup back in 1996.
These are good statistics but far too modest when you put them up against the likes of Barcelona, AC Milan and Bayern Munich.
Last season was a difficult and trying time, as the club adapted to their new wealth. There was a massive turnover of players.
In came the likes of Kevin Gameiro, Javier Pastore, former Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko and in January, Alex and Thiago Motta.
To begin with, the club struggled domestically and having gone in as the bookies favourites, were knocked out of the Europa League before Christmas at the group stages.
This led to the sacking of Antoine Kombouare and in came the ex-AC Milan and Chelsea boss, Carlo Ancelotti in January.
Ancelotti guided the side to second place, only missing out on the league title to surprising champions Montpellier on the final weekend.
Also, 79 points was a new record total of points for a runner-up in French football.
Ancelotti’s latest mission will be to take a dominant grip of the French game and prove his worth in Europe again. He has a point to prove.
Many feel that he was harshly sacked by Roman Abramovich, despite having won the league and cup double in his first season and finished Premier League runners-up in 2010/11.
Qatar wealth
What Ancelotti can’t complain about is the amount of wealth he will have at his disposal from the Qatar owners.
Earlier this year, Qatar Investment Authority became the sole shareholder of the club after purchasing the remaining 30 per cent stake that former owners Colony Capital had.
The president of PSG, Nasser Al-Khelaifi has already pledged over 100million euros in the transfer market to help build a strong team for the long suffering PSG supporters.
The old-fashioned Parc des Princes stadium (pictured) still holds the biggest average gate in the LFP, attracting an average of nearly 43,000 in the last campaign.
PSG’s spending power can’t be matched by many in Europe and at the weekend, they confirmed the £33m acquisition of Thiago Silva.
The Brazilian defender joins from Ancelotti’s former side AC Milan, becoming the most expensive defender in football history.
27-year-old Ezequiel Lavezzi has also left Serie A, joining from Napoli for a fee in the region of £30m.
It is believed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is also just days away from joining the revolution at the Parc des Princes.
When you look at these signings, plus current playing staff includes the likes of Nene, Maxwell, Diego Lugano and Jeremy Menez, confidence should be high of many prosperous years to come.
PSG haven’t finished in the market yet either. TalkSport suggests a deal for Benfica goal machine Oscar Cardozo isn’t far away and they have been strongly linked with controversial striker Luis Suarez, who is mulling over signing a new contract with his current employers, Liverpool.
Proud history
It isn’t just a team of winners on the backroom staff at PSG; it spreads to the boardroom too.
Former Paris legend Alain Roche in on the recruitment staff and he helped bring in the talent last season, such as Gameiro and Mathieu Bodmer.
Director of Football at the club is 1994 World Cup winner and former AC Milan boss Leonardo.
Leonardo has shown in his role that the director of football title, often seen as a pointless position is very handy.
Despite this, he failed to attract David Beckham to the club in January for a final European swansong.
PSG have a proud history and many great players have graced the club before.
They include Brazilian World Cup winner in 94, Rai, Paul Le Guen, charismatic goalkeeper Bernard Lama, Liberian George Weah and Ronaldinho.
A new set of PSG legends could be about to be created.
In the city of love and romance, a new attraction is encouraging plenty of the world football superstars to sit up and take notice.
The times in French football are changing. It might not be the coming season in Europe but Paris St. Germain is a team on the rise for many years to come.
By Simon Wright – Follow me on @Siwri88
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