PSG played without French player. And then?

Sunday evening , Jean- Michel Aulas has been a good player . Almost. After seeing his team getting crushed (4-0) at the Parc des Princes in Paris Saint- Germain , President of Olympique Lyonnais has cracked a tweet that he has the secret. First to congratulate a "stronger" than the OL PSG . Then to emphasize that the Parisian club had evolved without any French player in his starting lineup ( four Brazilians, three Italians , an Argentinian , a Swede , a Dutchman and a Uruguayan ), a first in the history of * French championship.

Congratulations to PSG was stronger tonight and this is justice. One must regret the French players for this team! Before Matuidi : none!

- Jean- Michel Aulas (@ JM_Aulas ) December 1, 2013
Asked after the game , Laurent Blanc, coach of Paris , he did not see the problem. " It does not bother me," conceded simply. Not unlike in the aftermath that "when there are five or six [ French players on the field Ed] , it must be said , too."

Beyond the symbolism of a club who wanted there not so long ago a local presence - this was before the arrival of the Qataris - and that eventually turned into multinational show, currently does it instead of fight ? Should we really worry about the identity of the Parisian club or the competitiveness of French football when his single engine carbide through foreign talents? A closer look, not really.

French players do not have the level

In Paris , as in most major European clubs , who said overstaffed said strong competition between players. Implacable logic sport at the highest level and who wants the best play , regardless of their nationality (see rules on quotas of foreign players in European football at the end of the article).

Last year, in an effective probably a little less strong, the French had more places on the ground. Carlo Ancelotti had made ​​it a habit to change at least two French players in its starting lineup ( Matuidi , Jallet , Menez , Chantôme , Gameiro , Sakho,
Armand or even Bodmer ) . On this list, five players - the last five - left PSG this summer. Pushed out of the players or wishing to look elsewhere for more playing time Players who simply were not at the new Paris armada .

Stripped of a large part of its contingent of French players , former coach of the Blues has inherited a workforce composed mostly of foreigners. And when it was necessary to further strengthen in attack and defense are to Edinson Cavani Uruguayan star and highly rated Brazilian Marquinhos the Parisian leaders turned . Through two big checks 65 and 45 million euros ...

PSG now has five French who are part of the rotation players ( Matuidi , Rabiot , Menez, Digne, Jallet ) - which can be added the goalkeeper Douchez , veteran and young Camara Ongenda and Coman - but only one, Blaise Matuidi , is like undisputed holder . The other will play injuries, suspensions and turnover.

In short , writes Pierre Menes , "instead of pretending to be offended to have a starting lineup composed entirely of foreigners, it would be better to ask why there are not more players capable of hexagonal change at this level . "

The international radiation PSG

" Let us dream bigger ." The slogan posted since last year by PSG Nasser Al- Khelaïfi is unequivocal. As the major European clubs , the Paris project goes beyond its national borders . To be competitive on the European stage and claim the final victory in the Champions League - the Holy Grail - but also to attract attention abroad and boost its international image, Paris needs a prestigious showcase , and thus stars . Gold stars , the French football into account more . With the exception of thirty Franck Ribery, in the race for the Ballon d'Or and icon Bayern Munich , the succession of the golden generation Zidane , Thuram , Henry , Vieira is pending.

They are great players, Nasri, Benzema, Evra, Sagna or Lloris ( to name a few ) will never have the international influence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Thiago Silva. And they were not necessarily the most accessible in the market these past two seasons players , despite the portfolio "no limit" PSG .

Away from the problems of English football

This is one of the main arguments of those who are offended by the lack of French players in the Parisian workforce: too play foreigners, Paris loses not only his identity but also neglects the training of young talents does not give a chance to players made ​​in France .

Reproaches repeatedly expressed in recent years in Britain where the great English clubs have long taken the step (since 1999 , Chelsea , Arsenal, Manchester City or Newcastle aligned teams composed entirely of foreign players ) causing erosion of an already poor training. Except that where the English model has contaminated a third of Premier League clubs ( the richest and most noted of the world championship) , PSG remains an isolated case in France - Monaco , another billionaire club, are still at least three or four French team in its type . So there is no danger in delay . Especially since, unlike the English players reluctant to leave their little league and sought abroad, the French footballers still exports fine.

And if Paris would seek the best French hopes ... abroad?

In the long term , the future of PSG might have strong French accents. Behind the foreign stars , Laurent Blanc began to prepare for the future this summer. Recruiting the young left-back Lucas Digne ( torn nose and beard of AS Monaco ) but retaining the very promising (and most requested) Adrien Rabiot formed club environment.

And it is likely that the Parisian leaders who do not want to lose sight of the local, trying to expand the French contingent in the coming months . And maybe even in January , turning to a younger generation with very high potential: Paul Pogba (Juventus) , Raphael Varane (Real Madrid) and other Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad ) ...