PARIS - Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain head to Toulouse on Friday in a position of strength that has been reinforced as many of their rivals have seen key players depart over the last month.
TodayToulouse vs PSGPARIS - Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain head to Toulouse on Friday in a position of strength that has been reinforced as many of their rivals have seen key players depart over the last month.French clubs have long exported their leading players to major clubs across the continent, and the domestic game has not always suffered as a result, but the trend in this January’s transfer window has been a worrying one.Given their own huge resources, PSG hardly needed their rivals to lose players to establish their own superiority, even if their performances have not always convinced this season. But while Carlo Ancelotti’s side have welcomed €40 million Brazil starlet Lucas Moura, there has been an exodus of talent from many of the country’s top sides.Toulouse saw France midfielder Moussa Sissoko head to Newcastle, although their coach Alain Casanova had to insist that another international star, Etienne Capoue, would be going nowhere.As relieved as he will be to see the transfer window slam shut, Casanova must now prepare his team for the meeting with a PSG side who are unbeaten in ten games in all competitions. "When PSG sign a player he tends to cost the same as our budget for the year,” said Casanova."That makes you think, although at the same time I believe that we are incredibly lucky to have them in Ligue 1. PSG are a locomotive and we need them.”These clubs met just last midweek in the French Cup, with PSG winning 3-1, and Casanova admits that there was "a big difference” between the pair that night.