Makelele: PSG slide alarming
Reuters - Thursday 04 February 2010, 02:15
PARIS - Paris Saint-Germain must change their
attitude to halt their alarming slide down the Ligue 1 table and
stop their annoying habit of gifting goals to opponents, captain
Claude Makelele said before they host Lorient on Saturday.
PSG were aiming for at least a European berth at the start
of the season but they have slipped to 14th in the 20-team
table, 19 points behind leaders Girondins Bordeaux, after losing
all three of their league games this year.
"The situation has become alarming," Makelele told
reporters.
"We're in a critical state. We keep allowing teams to bounce
back while we should be bouncing back at their expense."
The former Real Madrid and Chelsea midfielder criticised his
side's lack of consistency.
PSG lost 2-1 at Olympique Lyon last weekend after conceding
two late goals while being reduced to 10 men. They had suffered
a 1-0 home defeat by Monaco through an own goal from goalkeeper
Apoula Edel the week before.
"We're not focused enough. It's becoming annoying. We keep
gifting things to other teams. It's not acceptable," Makelele
said.
"It can't get worse than that. We need to react and to do
that, we need to change our mental approach to games. We can't
keep saying it's a pity that we lost. We need to be more solid
at the back and more effective up front."
HOARAU BOOST
PSG's hopes for recovery have been boosted by striker
Guillaume Hoarau's return after three months out with a knee
injury. The club's top scorer last season should be paired with
Turkey forward Mevlut Erding against Lorient.
Bordeaux top the standings on 48 points before they visit
mid-table Stade Rennes on Saturday.
The champions stayed on course for an unprecedented French
treble as they advanced to the French League Cup semi-finals
with a 1-0 home win over Ligue 2 side Sedan on Tuesday. They
have also reached the French Cup last 16.
Any stumble from Bordeaux could benefit surprise package
Montpellier, who visit strugglers Boulogne-sur-Mer on Saturday.
The promoted side are second, six points off the pace.
Lille, who are third on 40 points, visit Nice on Saturday while Olympique Marseille, who have seriously damaged
their title hopes after falling 12 points behind Bordeaux, host
Valenciennes on Sunday.