Confidence or pessimism, hope or poker, the Champions League begins the group stage shortly. Paris, Marseille and Rennes are the worthy representatives of Ligue 1 Uber Eats. The prestige of this competition offers nothing less than an additional distinction to clubs approaching final victory.
Nothing is left to chance, although, and this is the paradox of football, it always invites itself like a joker who reverses a situation. The cards related to the qualifications are reshuffled on this new edition which reserves its share of surprises. French clubs are not spared. What factors come into play? Are they favourable to certain clubs? An overview is in order!
The Champions League calendar that sets the tone
The calendar of the 2020-2021 edition of the LDC immediately sets the tone for the physical level required by all participating teams. At this exceptionally late end of the autumn transfer window, followed the sequence of international matches and the start of the group stage in the Champions League. The first matches start this Tuesday, October 20, phase that will end on December 9.
This pace reduces the share of chance of success to clubs that do not have a bench as wide as PSG, Bayern Munich or Real Madrid. Especially when you have to play every three days. Not to mention that teams like the Hungarians of Ferencváros started this competition very early with the first qualifying phase on August 19.
Goals under pressure
The final will take place on 29 May 2021 at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul and will leave no room for teams that have failed to handle the pressure of goals. "Succeeding" in the LDC can be very relative from one club to another. The Marseillais carry a Champions League project totally assumed, except by their finances that do not follow. Rennes wants to " go and steal as many points as possible" according to their coach Julien Stephan, with the aim of gaining experience. Rennes and Marseille would be wrong not to believe but would not say "no" to a place in the Europa League rather than be eliminated by the European "ogres" from their respective groups.
Conversely, the objectives of historic clubs are announced, sometimes half-word: Win! PSG remain on a frustrating final. The will not fail in any case in the champion of France to aim again for a final with this time more realism against the competitors that are FC Barcelona: eliminated too early on the last edition. Real Madrid : stopped on a historical record of matches "without defeat" in the LDC. Or Manchester City: always looking to win hundreds of millions the cup with big ears. The list is not exhaustive, but it reveals that these teams have years of fierce struggle and that their goals are not a pressure but a great motivation to string together performances towards anyone who shows signs of weakness.
The Marseille club lives every match with this pressure of an extraordinary public that clearly plays the "12th man" and this year it will miss the 11 players on the field. At PSG, the management of pressure present for years is the essence of the players who sign in this club, they adhere to the constant pressure that leads to surpass themselves. Stade Rennais remains uninhibited and moves forward with great humility, which is a definite asset to concentrate match after match.
The dice are rolled
Among the areas on which "luck" can intervene, we note the draw of the 32 European clubs that have risen so far to form 8 groups. At this precise moment, everything is done so that the hens are balanced, but nothing ensures it… So much it also depends on filling the hats of the big teams, experienced, but also opportunistic outsiders. For some, it's the "Jackpot!", while for others, it's the group of death.
If for Rennes and Marseille the draw leaves open the possibilities, although slim, PSG will not have an easy task. The reception and travel to the Turkish club will be of great intensity, while an experienced MU in the LDC and a very offensive Leipzig will be dangerous competitors during the away games.
For Marseille & Rennes it will be necessary to fight hard to win a ticket for the 8th finals with for each, two big calibers in their respective groups. Remember that in a group, only two of the best teams can qualify for the final phase of the competition: elimination over two games. If Marseille will undoubtedly struggle against Manchester City, Porto, who have lightened in the transfer window and Olympiakos are "pretty". Rennes will gain experience with Chelsea, but may consider exploits with Sevilla or Krasnodar. Be careful not to dream too much, the Europa League being a great reward, as the insurance is not at the rendezvous for these two formations.
Teams and Mercato: always some twists and turns
The transfer window can make or break a team depending on its quality. Each club can therefore strengthen or weaken in the image for example of Barça 2019-2020 who had on paper a very strong team, but finally in match players like Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suarez or Lionel Messi who had trouble finding each other; or like Ousmane Dembélé were regularly injured. Chelsea has certainly been one of the most active teams in a very quiet transfer window as a whole, due to club finances strongly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. It must therefore be recognized that Paris, Marseille and Rennes have strengthened skillfully.
Paris has finally found a number 6 in the person of Danilo Pereira, indisputable holder in Porto. In addition, Leonardo won in the last hours of the transfer window Rafinha and Moise Kean, enough to alleviate some physical problems during the season. In its group, if Leipzig no longer has its star striker, MU has strengthened with the indefatigable Edinson Cavani who will have to impose himself to be a starter. We will have to be very attentive to this reshuffled team for the big matches!
The departure of Danilo, manager of Porto, will do the business of Marseille who have strengthened in attack with the young and promising Luis Henrique. The loan of Mikaël Cuisance and the arrival of some players responding to the Marseille budget will temporarily cause a lack of benchmarks following the departures of Maxime Lopez and Bouna Sarr. Marseille are indeed losing players well integrated into the squad and the fast right-back was an asset against a solid squad.
Finally, it is Rennes who seems to take the most risks with the arrival of Jérémy Doku, considered a crack for some or who only has big qualities for others. Note also the departure of Raphina for Leeds which can destabilize an attack in search of goals in the Champions League.
The X factor in football
Fit players will certainly be THE added value of a team. Having in his squad a player in confidence and constant success, but also scorer in the national team, Eduardo Camavinga promises some surprises for the Breton team. And who knows if his association with the Belgian international Jérémy Doku will not pierce the opposing lines for the pleasure of our football evenings?
We hope that this will be the year of the LDC for Florian Thauvin who has not really convinced in previous years. Like his club, Thauvin struggles to reach a milestone for big games, so the magic doesn't work on the pitch. André Villas Boas will have a lot to do to boost good results both in the league and in the LDC.
The capital club has been one of the sure values in the LDC for a few years now. His panoply of talented players is absolutely no stranger to this, except that since his recruitment, Neymar was slow to show his talent in the field of the collective. It was without counting on the qualities of the Parisian coach who was able to refocus on the essence of the game and his complicit association with Kylian Mbappé is the symbol.
Projections for the knockout stages
An exceptional year with a condensed calendar will favor PSG whose squads are rich while Rennes and Marseille will find themselves with a decisive choice to make a cross on the investment in the LDC depending on the results in the league to save the season.
Always more mental preparation to manage the goals in the face of the pressure they cause despite the absence of an audience is certainly the axis of the big games this year. The three French teams are known for their training centers, this year will reveal the quality of their work match after match. Even if the potential to qualify varies, there is no doubt that great victories are on the horizon. Something to enjoy in advance!
You could almost say that the group draws were made in proportion to the levels of our qualified teams. We say it bluntly, the 8th finals are possible for all, but Paris displays the most credibility, and by far!
A difficult transfer window for Europe suggests surprises both positive and dramatic for the demanding results of a competition that does not forgive any casting error. It is therefore full of hope but without being naive that we expect the alchemy of Rennes and Marseille, while the Qataris have allowed adjustments so hoped for so that the Parisian team is always more dangerous.
These three teams have nothing to be ashamed of and must play uninhibited because many events will influence each course in the Champions League. We want to believe in it and each formation now has all the cards in hand. Whether it's the exploits of Rennes, a new Marseille story and the year finally long awaited for Paris, play your games!
