The Montpellier coach is unfazed by Paris Saint-Germain’s transfer activity this season and believes that the arrival of high-profile players will help the whole of Ligue 1
The 58-year-old has admitted that the latest arrivals have taken rivals Les Parisiens to a whole next level in Ligue 1, but insisted that it will only motivate his side in their attempt to defend their league crown.
Montpellier shocked everyone last season by winning the Championelle ahead of the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Lille and Lyon. Many were tipping Reni Girard’s side to finish outside the top ten but La Paillade, defying the odds, won their maiden Ligue
1 crown after finishing three points above Carlo Ancelotti’s PSG.
Montpellier are facing an uphill battle of holding onto their Ligue 1 crown. The cash-laden club from Paris have considerably strengthened their ranks ahead of the new season with several top-brass players arriving at the capital club.
Following the footsteps of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Zlatan-Ibrahimovic-c38029 have joined the Paris revolution this summer.
However, Montpellier coach Reni Girard is not worried about PSG’s lavish spending in the transfer market. The former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899 international believes that such high-profile players will also increase the pressure on PSG to deliver next season which will
benefit other sides.
"It's good for our league and it will be a good competition at Stade de la Mosson when PSG come here," Girard told reporters.
Girard admitted that Paris Saint-Germain will start the season as clear favourites but stated that his side will take this fact as a motivation and will try to defend their Ligue 1 crown.
"On paper, this is obviously a team of superstars, galactic to us. It will be a challenge to overcome, it will be a motivation. But this team will go far for the title in front of everyone."
Montpellier will face http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-Lyonnais-c40130 in the Trophee des Champions at the Red Bull Arena in New York on July 28.
The reigning champions will face http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Toulouse-FC-c40751 in their opening fixture of the 2012/2013 Ligue 1 campaign on August 10 at Stade de la Mosson and Rene Girard will be hoping for nothing but a victory to set their campaign on the right track.
Tags: