Montpellier braced for mental battle with PSG
Reuters - Thursday 12 April 2012, 09:35
Montpellier have climbed to the
Ligue 1 summit playing brilliant one-touch football but the
leaders expect the title to be won by the side possessing the
greater mental fortitude as they engage in a thrilling sprint to
the line with Paris Saint-Germain.
Qatar-backed PSG, who spent over 80 million euros on new
players last summer, have looked far from convincing on the
pitch but sit just three points behind Montpellier with both
facing visits to struggling sides on Sunday.
"We're entering that phase where everything will be come
down to mental toughness," Montpellier coach Rene Girard said
prior to the southerners' trip to Lorient.
"And when you are in a battle with Paris...," he added,
referring to PSG's numerous last-gap victories earlier this
year. "But we are here and if they are better, they will show it
on the field."
PSG, who have 63 points with seven games remaining, travel
to bottom club AJ Auxerre, who lie seven points from safety and
face an uphill battle to preserve their place in the elite.
"These kind of teams are always dangerous for us. They
always give everything against PSG because it's PSG," goalkeeper
Salvatore Sirigu told the club's website.
Montpellier once again showed they are well prepared for a
dogfight with a 3-1 win at Olympique Marseille on Wednesday,
with the prolific pairing of Younes Belhanda and Olivier Giroud
proving more than a handful for most defences.
Morocco midfielder Belhanda was in inspired form and well
worth his two goals, one of them a jaw-dropping volley, as
Giroud chipped in with his 19th strike of the season.
"We can't hide anymore. We all firmly believe we will clinch
the title," Giroud told reporters on Wednesday.
Champions Lille, who are 10 points off the pace, will be
looking to strengthen their hold on third place when they host
AC Ajaccio, also on Sunday.
Lille occupy the Champions League play-off qualifying spot,
three points ahead of seven-times champions Olympique Lyon, who
face Marseille in the League Cup final on Saturday before making
up the league fixture at Toulouse on Wednesday.
Holding midfielder Florent Balmont may be unavailable for
Lille after he limped out of training on Tuesday with a muscle
problem.