How Montpellier beat PSG to win the French title

PARIS – It looked as though Manchester City had found a failsafe method for winning titles: attract a billionaire Middle Eastern owner, sign a proven Italian manager, spend heavily, and the silverware should follow.What worked in England, however, has not worked in France this season.Qatar Sports Investment talked of European domination when they purchased Paris Saint-Germain last summer, but they will need to conquer France first.Despite splashing £82m on players and luring Carlo Ancelotti, the capital side were pipped to the title by their modest southern rivals Montpellier, a club whose annual budget of £29m is only the 13th in France and less than the £37m France record PSG spent on Javier Pastore.Indeed, for those complaining about the influence of wealthy foreign investors in modern football, Montpellier represent the perfect antidote.PSG’s tally of 79 points would usually have been enough for the title, but Montpellier have been extraordinary. Rene Girard’s charges finished with 82 points - the second highest total in Ligue 1 history - although they still had to endure a torturous final game at Auxerre on Sunday.Needing to avoid defeat to claim their first-ever title, Montpellier went behind before recovering through John Utaka’s leveller.An already-tense situation became almost unbearable as the second half was stopped three times due to crowd disturbances. With Auxerre already condemned to relegation, home fans expressed their anger by throwing on tennis balls, eggs, toilet paper and flares.The third delay lasted more than 20 minutes. As police marched away the offending supporters, the players tried to remain focused. News that PSG’s game had finished and that they had come from behind to win at Lorient hardly settled their nerves.“Montpellier don’t deserve this,” lamented former France striker Christophe Dugarry on television. The sentiment was shared by many. This was one of the most tantalising finales to a season yet not the climax anybody had hoped for.When the game re-started, PSG’s players were huddled in front of a television. Their hopes were crushed by Utaka’s winner, however - with the final whistle sounding 41 minutes later than scheduled.“This was the longest night of my life,” said relieved Montpellier coach Girard amid manic celebrations.The city of Montpellier has barely slept since. Partying continued through the night and tens of thousands crammed in to the Place de la Comedie to witness Monday’s trophy ceremony.Taking centre stage - and sporting a new orange-and-blue Mohawk haircut - was the architect of Montpellier’s success: their loyal president Louis Nicollin.Nicollin, a self-made entrepreneur, is the driving force behind several sports in the region having invested in local rugby, basketball, handball and football teams. The 68-year-old has been the football club’s president since its birth in 1974.In the early years, he looked to buy success, spending lavishly on the likes of Roger Milla, Eric Cantona and Carlos Valderrama. Although Montpellier won the French Cup in 1990 - thanks in no small part to Laurent Blanc - the success did not last.