Beaten at home by Stade Rennais (0-1) before the international window, Paris FC resumed Ligue 1 with a defeat at Lille (4-2), Sunday evening, at the end of the 13th day of Ligue 1, even if two goals from the Mastiffs, confirmed by the video referee, are subject to controversy. The 7th defeat of Stéphane Gilli’s team against Olivier Giroud and others, however, places the residents of the Stade Jean Bouin in embarrassment.
The PFC is 12th in Ligue 1 with three points ahead of 16th (the play-off place), but it is above all the impression given by the promoted Parisian that is worrying. The Arnault family club did not achieve quality recruitment last summer. Targeting experienced players in Ligue 1 was not a bad idea and Hamari Traoré, Pierre Lees-Melou, Moses Simon and even Jonathan Ikoné can still contribute to the squad led by Maxime Lopez and Ilan Kebbal.
But Paris FC missed out on its two most expensive recruits of the summer. Otavio, bought for 17 million euros from FC Porto, is not at all a defense boss. And striker Willem Geubbels, chosen after the failures of Mathis Abline and Lucas Stassin, is far from the level required to shine in Ligue 1. The player recruited from Saint-Gall for 9 million only scored his second goal against the Mastiffs. Alone at the forefront, he fails to gain the upper hand over the championship defenders.
Finally a scorer at Paris FC?
Paris FC’s season is currently unworthy of the financial overkill of its owners. Bernard Arnault is one of the richest businessmen in the world, he is worth more than 180 billion dollars. The promoted team spent more than 50 million euros while most of the teams in the second half of the Ligue 1 table were unable to recruit. The situation of this two-speed Ligue 1 is catastrophic…
Paris FC has set out to strengthen itself massively during the winter transfer window, as Daniel Riolo assured again on RMC on Sunday evening. Arnaud Kalimuendo, recruited by Nottingham Forest for 30 million euros, plays very little in England and would be in the sights of the Parisians, indicates Youngfooters. He left with a record of 18 goals last season. Stassin would still be followed, according to le10sport.com. Marco Neppe, former head of Bayern recruitment and new sporting director, is expected around the corner.
