Paris FC are doing everything right to challenge PSG’s hegemony in France

A revolution is quietly taking place just 44 metres away from the Parc des Princes, and it could alter the footballing landscape in the French capital. “Paris is Magic,” reads the slogan inside the Paris Saint-Germain stadium. Those three words reflect the monopoly that PSG have held in the capital in recent decades. PSG is Paris; Paris is PSG. But for how much longer?

There is no such slogan pasted atop the Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris FC’s new home, where they swatted aside Lorient 2-0 on Friday, a result that has taken them up to eighth in Ligue 1. They are just six points behind their closest of close rivals, not that challenging PSG is their current reality. What is taking hold at Paris FC is less of a Great Leap Forward and more of a Cultural Revolution as the Arnault family, who bought the club at the end of last year, place their pawns and mould the club in their image.

Despite their newfound wealth, change will be incremental at Paris FC. The cart is not being put before the horse, as it was by Saint-Étienne last year. They also made the step up from Ligue 2 with money to spend. The signings of Lucas Stassin and Zuriko Davitashvili were bold statements of intent but both players lacked Ligue 1 experience. The result was an immediate relegation back to Ligue 2.

“We have to be careful during the next few years,” says Paris FC president Pierre Ferracci, who remains in his post after the takeover. “We need to establish ourselves in Ligue 1 and avoid any false steps; that is why we are going to recruit experienced players.”

That isn’t the long-term plan for Paris FC, who have been “inspired” by Barcelona’s academy system and wish to replicate it, with the help of minority shareholders Red Bull, in the famously rich talent-pool that is the Île-de-France region. The seeds of their long-term planning are now being planted. Marco Neppe, the former Bayern Munich technical director, has come in as the new sporting director, replacing Pierre Ferracci’s own son, Francois Ferracci. “We wanted to give the sporting management of the club an experienced head,” said Arnault.

Pierre Ferracci added that Neppe’s “qualities would be precious” in what was a “transitional phase” for the club, before going on to thank his son in a communique that lacked any kind of familial warmth. “Francois Ferracci has played a crucial role in recent years. I want to sincerely thank him for his commitment,” said the Paris FC president. The Ferracci dynasty is crumbling; Pierre will probably follow Francois out the door when his presidency expires in 2027.

PSG and Paris FC could not be closer neighbours. Photograph: Robbert Frank Hagens/Alamy

With Jean-Marc Gallot, who is close to Antoine Arnault, being nominated as the club’s new CEO last week, there can be no illusion that the Arnault family are now at the wheel, even if Ferracci remains the face of the club. And, despite the arrival of new faces both on and off the pitch, it is the familiar ones who continue to impress for Paris FC.

It was the Jean-Philippe Krasso and Ilan Kebbal show on Friday night. Both scored in the 2-0 win. Kebbal, a technical, elusive playmaker, has gone from strength to strength since joining in 2023. Repeatedly told he would never get a professional contract because of his diminutive size, Kebbal continues to prove doubters wrong, and it is a wonder that, at 27, he has not been picked up by a “big club”. He already has four goals this season; only Joaquín Panichelli and Ansu Fati have scored more in Ligue 1.

Krasso, who joined in 2024, finished last season as the second-highest scorer in Ligue 2. It looked as if he would lose his spot when the club signed Willem Geubbels in the summer but, having also scored against Nice last weekend, he looks to have regained his place.

Slightly further back, it is Maxime Lopez who continues to shine more than Pierre Lees-Melou, signed from Brest; and Obed Nkambadio is ensuring that former PSG goalkeeper Kevin Trapp’s prospects are limited. That isn’t to say that the new recruits are misfiring. Moses Simon, a Ligue 1 stalwart, contributed two goals and two assists since joining from Nantes, and Hamari Traoré is clearly a canny signing who brings a wealth of experience.

The business done has been intelligent and tailored towards the short-term goal of keeping Paris FC in the top flight. It is a degree of continuity, on the pitch and in the dugout at least, that will also contribute to that objective being met.

It is also a speed of evolution that means that PSG’s dominance will not be challenged just yet but, with the Stade Jean-Bouin attracting a sell-out crowd on Friday, PSG’s claim to the city of Paris could be challenged by their noisy neighbours. “Paris est Magique”, “Ici c’est Paris” – PSG’s signature chants may need to introduce a level of distinction to reflect that they may no longer be in a one-club city.

Talking points

PSG dropped points for the second time this season. There were four teenagers in Luis Enrique’s starting XI as he tried to “prioritise the health of the players” after their 2-1 win in Barcelona last week. As well as the absences of Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué, Marquinhos, João Neves and Fabián Ruiz, the manager also opted to bench Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes and Vitinha. It offered more than a glimmer of hope to Lille, who have an excellent home record. The European champions lacked their usual control and Lille had a few chances to take the lead in the first half. When Nuno Mendes came off the bench to score a long-range free-kick, the game seemed to be going PSG’s way before the late, inevitable, twist: Ethan Mbappé scoring against his former club in front of the onlooking Kylian Mbappé. The elder Mbappé, who has been engaged in a legal dispute with PSG since his departure to Real Madrid, made no attempt to mask his joy.

Ethan Mbappé celebrates after scoring Lille’s equaliser in their 1-1 draw against PSG. Photograph: Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

Monaco and Nice saw out a 2-2 draw that suited neither side. Monaco’s draw against Manchester City last week somewhat papered over the cracks during a streak of poor performances; meanwhile Nice went into the derby having won just two of their 10 games this season. The Nice ultras’ boycott of the game – a decision linked to the authorities’ handling of the fixture – meant this was a derby lacking in colour, but there was no shortage of talking points on the pitch. There were four goals, three penalties and one red card. Nice took a 2-0 lead before letting the game slip, Ali Al-Abdi’s dismissal proving costly. Sofiane Diop’s two goals were cancelled out by two for Ansu Fati, who continued his excellent start at Monaco. “We’ll take it under the circumstances,” said Nice manager Franck Haise. It is a result that won’t kickstart either side’s faltering campaign, and one that could cost Adi Hutter his job.

This is an article by Get French Football News