PSG’s “woes” are actually a benefit for Les Parisiens…and Ligue 1

Unai Emery’s PSG have not been cruising along as well as people would have thought…but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. (Photo: Sport.fr)

Four. So far, PSG have lost four games this season. That’s four out of only 18 games. To put that in context, over the past three seasons, Les Parisiens have only lost eight matches – meaning that in half a season, they have now hit half the total amount of defeats over three full campaigns.

This includes two back to back losses on the road. In fact, PSG are sans a win in their past three Ligue 1 fixtures, which leaves them in third heading into the last league fixture of 2016. Yet, although there are many more games to go between now and May, alarm bells have already started sounding around the Parc des Princes. Unai Emery, brought in to replace Laurent Blanc, is now on the hot-seat. In fact, the ex-Sevilla boss is under the microscope.

Publicly, the Spanish tactician may declare he has the president’s support. And who knows, he just might. However, one can’t dispute that he and PSG are currently under pressure. In the Champions League, Les Parisiens were dealt another unfortunate blow. Yes, they will face Barcelona – for the umpteenth time – in the round of 16. Indeed, it really seems like PSG just can not seem to avoid the Blaugrana – like that irritating relative one can’t dodge during the holiday season.

Domestically, they sit four points behind Nice and three away from Monaco. That is not exactly a mammoth gap, but that hasn’t calmed down the buzz that surely will become a roar if they fail to pick up all three points from their upcoming tie with Lorient on Wednesday evening.

But are PSG’s so-called “struggles” a bad thing?

Not at all.

From a feared one horse race to an actual open competition

Yes, they strolled to the Ligue 1 title last season. That was their fourth straight win and they broke numerous records along the way. For a PSG fan, it’s obviously a good thing. For French football, not so much. There was that nagging fear that very soon, Ligue 1 would become a one-horse affair. PSG would win and then the rest would scrap for second and third spot.

Well, PSG have been brought firmly back down to earth. A combination of Nice and Monaco’s great form, coupled with some big changes at the capital club have seemingly leveled the playing field. From a neutral perspective, Ligue 1 is actually a lot more interesting and less predictable this term. Nice and Monaco are still going strong – and despite their “woes”, so is PSG.

In fact, in a general context, Les Parisiens are not actually doing badly. They’re faring how one would expect any top team in one of Europe’s “Big 5” leagues would fare on a more level playing landscape. The problem is, last season created this notion that they would be in cruise control going forward. And if that had turned out to be the case, it ultimately would have hurt both them – and French football – in the long run. An open competition keeps them honest and ensures that the league remains of interest – both for fans and prospective players.

It benefits PSG too…especially in continental affairs

One common criticism leveled at PSG was the fact that they have dominated France, yet kept on coming up short in Europe. The general consensus was that Les Parisiens were not being thoroughly challenged week in, week out. Although teams like Bayern Munich and Juventus have largely turned the Bundesliga and Serie A into more predictable affairs, neither die Roten nor the Bianconeri have spent the kind of money that PSG have done over the past few seasons. As such, they’re expected to be able to hold their own alongside the big Spanish sides, yet are never really mentioned in the same category as Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Bayern.

Well, this time around, Les Parisiens actually have to work to defend their title. They also haven’t cruised through their Champions League campaign and in fact, ended up in second spot after shockingly drawing 2-2 with lowly Ludogorets.

Having to up their game domestically will keep them focused on the continent. Right now, they’re in third, behind Nice and Monaco. Regardless of what happens, PSG will head into the Christmas break not on top of the Ligue 1 table. In seasons past, that would have been unthinkable. This time around, it’s a harsh reality, but ultimately, it will benefit the team and the league in the long run.