A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS
2015-2016 A new challenge for 3 times Champions League winnerAfter an amazing season with Real Madrid manager James Butler stunned the Spanish club by saying he wanted to move on. Despite lifting all 3 trophies available he walked away at the end of his 1 year contract simply saying he was looking for a new challenge. The chance to work in France and restore Paris Saint-Germain to title challengers and potential winners for the first time since 1994 was a huge incentive. The clubs owners have laid down the challenge of winning the league and the cup as well as reaching the semi-final of the Champions League. Toachieve the objective a £45m budget has been given to the new manager.
TransfersIN:Courtois - Chelsea - £17m
Jose Angel - Roma - £5.6m
Walker - Tottenham - £8m
Izquierdo - Real Madrid - £2.9m
Oxlade-Chamberlain - Arsenal - £9m
Thiago - Barcelona - Loan
Anderson - Manchester United - Loan
Ekici - Werder Bremen - £10.5m
OUT:Bahebeck - Lille - Loan
Kamghain - Doncaster - £975k
Camara - Energie Cottbus - £450k
Armand - Nice - £525k
Coulibaly - Millwall - £1.1m
Landre - Loan
Arnaud - £600k
Ngoyi - Deportivo La Coruna - £975k
Areola - Millwall - Loan
Everton - Brescia - £2m
Peuget - Macclesfield - £230k
Nene - Werder Bremen - £7.5m
Hoarau - Aston Villa - £5.5m
13 out, 8 in during squad reshapingWith the challenge of winning the title the manager set about building a strong team. With only a young goalie and a 36 year old at the club the manager went back to his first club to sign Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea for £17m. With a lack of full-backs also being highlighted, Roma's Jose Angel was picked up for a good fee so too was Kyle Walker from Spurs who had been knocked down the pecking order with no less than 6 Right Backs on the Tottenham books. Young left winger Izquierdo has followed his boss again and after joining Madrid from Chelsea he has joined P.S.G. to continue his growth. Another Englishman joined in the shape of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, he will take the RM spot in the new side. With the funds spent the manager sought out some loan signings to bolster his thin squad. The first was Thiago, who had played for him at Chelsea 4 years ago. He has been surplus to requirements at Barcelona for a couple of years and has been given the chance to stake a claim for a permanent deal. The same goes for Brazilian Anderson. The final signing was FK specialist Ekici, he joined on deadline day as P.S.G. beat off Inter Milan to sign him.
Many of the players leaving were young players the manager wanted to let progress away from the club or older players with no future in his side. The biggest names to go were Hoarau and Nene, the former joing Villa late on as P.S.G. deemed him surplus. The latter, Nene, was set to stay as despite his age he still had great ability. A late bid from Bremen was too good an offer to turn down for a 35 year old.
The Squad:GK Courtois 85
RB Walker 78
CB Kaboul 78
CB Sakho 83
LB Angel 79
RM Oxlade-Chamberlain 74
CM Matuidi 82
CM Pastore 88
LM Izquierdo 67
CF Pato 89
CF Gameiro 85
GK Douchez 76
CB Lugano 81
CB Tambe 69
RB Ceara 73
LB Tiene 74
CM Thiago 80
CM Chantome 80
CM Anderson 82
CM Bodmer 79
RM Ekici 81
RM Kebano 67
CF Erdinc 78
A Strong team and some good back-up too. The manager was thrilled to inherit players of Pato & Pastore's calibre. He also had a settled defensive duo in Kaboul and Sakho not to mention tough midfielder Matuidi. Changed may come in January but funds have been almost entirely spent.
Trophie Champ.P.S.G. 3-1 LyonAfter 3 pre-season wins the first big test came against Lyon in the Trophie Champ. Lyon had pushed his Real Madrid side so close in the Champions League last season so he knew it would be a challenge. It was more of a challenge after 11 minutes when Briand got in to score for Lyon. On 30 minutes though Pato scored from a great Walker cross. In the second half P.S.G. got right into the game and took the lead through Gameiro on 56 minutes. 10 minutes later the same player sealed the win and the cup to give the new boss a winning start over one of their biggest challengers.
Ligue 1P.S.G. 2-0 MarseilleA big game to kick-ff the season and P.S.G. took the points. It started well with a great run from Pato before his cross/shot was put in his own goal by the Marseille defender. Pato got himself on the scoresheet not long after to make it look like a great day. However, in the 50th minute Pastore went in for his first tackle of the game and it was late, the ref took out the red card straight away leaving him with a 3 match ban to start the season.
Bordeaux 0-2 P.S.G.Another great performance from Pato was the difference, Bordeuax were hit repeatedly by a great team display and it could've been more.
Champions League QualifierLech Poznan 0-1 P.S.G.With the boss having won the last 3 Champions League crowns a qualifier was a long distance away from the final. It was a strong defensive performance from Poznan and only a Gameiro goal midway through the 2nd half was enough the give the Paris side the lead.
Ligue 1P.S.G. 1-0 AuxerreThe score indicated a tight game but P.S.G. had 15 sots on target, hitting the post 3 times and the bar once. Another Pato goal was enough to take the points in what could've been a very frustrating day.
Champions League QualifierP.S.G. 1-0 Lech PoznanAnother extremely tight game against the Polish side. P.S.G. just couldn't get through and Poznan had chances of their own. Going into injury time in the second half though a rash challenge gave P.S.G. a penalty which Pastore dispatched to give them the win and put them into the group stages.
Ligue 1St. Etienne 1-3 P.S.G.A great game from the Paris side. Pastore returned from suspension and ran the game. Gameiro got in early on and put a powerful shot past the keeper. Midway through the half a Pastore corner was headed in by Lugano. Pato got a 3rd on 70 minutes before a late penalty was conceded but P.S.G. took the win.
Transfer window closes, disaster strikesWith all their business done in the window the manager was very happy with their squad. Just one day after the window shut though a training ground collision left star man Alexandro Pato out for 2 months with a broken elbow, it remains to be seen how vital this could be as he is likely to miss upto 11 games.