### Mbappé's Departure Signals Transition for Ligue 1 as Financial Divide Grows; Managerial Talent Offers New Hope
**By Luke Entwistle for Get French Football News**
**Luke Entwistle**
**Thu 15 Aug 2024 08.00 BST**
With Kylian Mbappé's contentious exit from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, the club's “bling bling” era—already diminished by the departures of Lionel Messi and Neymar—is now definitively over. What was once seen as a hallmark of PSG’s pursuit of European glory had come to be viewed internally as a hindrance rather than a benefit. Mbappé, alongside Messi and Neymar, was central to PSG’s domestic dominance, even as the Champions League remained elusive.
For the first time in seven years, PSG will start a season without a clear Galáctico in their ranks, potentially reducing their aura of invincibility. This shift creates an opportunity for rivals, particularly Marseille, who have made substantial investments to close the quality gap. Yet, dismissing PSG as vulnerable is premature; they still stand apart in France, both financially and on the pitch.
The main challenge this summer has been replacing Mbappé, who, despite a reduced role towards the end of last season, contributed to 33% of PSG's goals in Ligue 1. While they have not yet fully addressed this gap, PSG has invested €101.7m (£87.6m) in new players, including João Neves, Matvey Safonov, and Willian Pacho, with Désiré Doué also expected to join for a significant fee. Beyond these acquisitions, PSG is embarking on a more structured sporting project, initiated with Luís Campos’ appointment as sporting director and continued with Luis Enrique's arrival last season. Enrique is achieving what many predecessors could not: enhancing his reputation while at the Parc des Princes.
### PSG's New Era and the Rising Tide of Managerial Talent in Ligue 1
**By Luke Entwistle for Get French Football News**
**Luke Entwistle**
**Thu 15 Aug 2024 08.00 BST**
The environment at PSG is now more favorable for success, thanks in part to Luis Enrique's contributions. The formula of hiring a top-tier manager and supporting them with substantial backing seems straightforward but is rarely applied effectively by Ligue 1 clubs. PSG's commitment to Enrique highlights this approach.
Marseille have also embraced this strategy, attracting Roberto De Zerbi to the Vélodrome despite the financial setback of missing out on European competition. De Zerbi has been well-supported, with significant additions to the squad including Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Mason Greenwood, Lilian Brassier, Elye Wahi, Valentín Carboni, and Ismaël Koné. These signings enhance the squad’s quality, positioning Marseille, along with a largely unchanged Monaco, as strong challengers to PSG.
In contrast, other clubs like Brest, as predicted by sporting director Grégory Lorenzi, are not in a position to build on last season’s achievements with major investments. A sharp decline may be on the horizon unless Eric Roy can replicate his previous success.
Nice and Lens, both with limited resources but aspirations of European football, have made shrewd managerial choices. Franck Haise has moved from Lens to Nice following Francesco Farioli’s departure to Ajax, while Will Still has taken over at Lens after a successful stint at Reims. Still, despite not securing a move back to England, has taken the reins at what he calls “the most English club in France,” hoping to build on his achievements at Reims.
De Zerbi, Haise, and Still are among the five managerial changes at last season’s Top 10 finishers, with Lille hiring Ligue 1 veteran Bruno Génésio and Reims bringing in Luka Elsner. Elsner’s appointment is particularly notable as he previously led Le Havre to and through Ligue 1 on a tight budget, reflecting a positive trend of nurturing and retaining managerial talent in France. This trend offers hope that, despite the departure of big names like Mbappé, the league’s quality will remain intact.
The financial divide in Ligue 1 is set to widen between the haves and the have-nots. Last season, there was a growing sense of unease as the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), the league’s governing body, mishandled the crisis surrounding broadcasting rights. The LFP’s ambitious €1 billion price tag for the upcoming 2024-29 cycle failed to attract any bidders, resulting in a protracted search for a broadcaster that only concluded less than a month before the season began. The rights were eventually sold to DAZN and beIN Sport for about half the initial asking price, leaving consumers facing higher fees than in previous seasons—a lose-lose outcome.
Clubs are expected to suffer from these financial discrepancies, leading to a more stratified league. Last season, with three gameweeks remaining, every team except PSG had something to fight for, whether it was European qualification or relegation, with Montpellier even facing both possibilities. However, Montpellier now epitomizes the league’s financial divide. They must sell players before they can buy, and have yet to make any new signings, leading to President Laurent Nicollin’s frustration with the LFP’s handling of the broadcasting deal. Nicollin has accused Canal Plus of “trying to kill French football” by not bidding for the rights.
Montpellier is not alone in this struggle. Le Havre, similarly, has yet to spend in the transfer window, and newly promoted Angers are strong candidates for an immediate return to Ligue 2. Auxerre has managed some strategic low-cost acquisitions, while Saint-Étienne, the other promoted side, has bucked the trend thanks to their wealthy new Canadian owners.
While financial imbalances are not new in football, the current context in Ligue 1 will amplify these disparities. PSG remains the favorites, bolstered by their financial power and a new era without Mbappé. However, astute decision-making by perennial challengers and some ambitious managerial appointments might narrow the gap as PSG steps into this new chapter.
.webp)
0 Comments