Madras Times - Luis Enrique has no doubts about PSG's title credentials

PSG enjoyed a record-breaking campaign last season, completing the first treble in French football, winning their domestic league and cup, as well as the Champions League.

Things have not gone so well this season, with PSG sitting second in Ligue 1, one point behind surprise leaders Lens, and already out of the cup.

"Honestly, if anyone has any doubts about our team... they should drop them," Luis Enrique said on Thursday before hosting fourth-placed Lille.

"What's the problem? People think we're going to win all the trophies and all of our matches? Football doesn't work that way.

"You have to highlight what we've accomplished. I have no doubts about the type of team we are."

PSG won the league by 19 points last season but Lens have strung together a nine-match winning run in all competitions to surge to the top of Ligue 1.

In the meantime, the champions have had to contend with a spate of injuries.

PSG have not been as sharp as last season, something that was in evidence on Monday against PFC when they failed to score from 25 shots on goal, including seven on target.

PFC on the other hand, could muster only four shots and two on target but made their meagre attacking output count.

Despite the recent injury returns of attacking pair Ousmane Dembele, the current Ballon d'Or, and Desire Doue, PSG cannot find the same creativity and intensity as last season.

And while the French Cup was not top of their list of priorities this season, Luis Enrique said he hopes their elimination "will be a motivation for Ligue 1 and the Champions League, which are the most important competitions".

PSG are well-placed to secure a top eight finish in the league phase of the Champions League and avoid the dreaded play-offs but face a tricky trip to Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.

Lens, meanwhile, will be without top scorer Odsonne Edouard for the visit of lowly Auxerre on Saturday.

Edouard, who joined this season from Crystal Palace, has scored eight goals in 16 matches for the Blood and Golds but was injured during Sunday's 3-0 French Cup victory over Sochaux.

"We think that he could play, maybe for 15 minutes, but we don't want to take the risk," coach Pierre Sage said on Thursday.

Youngster Rayan Fofana, who was the first choice forward at the start of the season before Edouard's arrival, is likely to deputise.

Third-placed Marseille face a tough trip to Angers knowing that any more slip-ups like last week's 2-0 home defeat to Nantes will likely end any title aspirations they might have as they already trail Lens by eight points.

Player to watch: Endrick

The teenage Brazil star scored the winner on his Lyon debut in the French Cup at Lille on Sunday, clinically slotting home at the back post on the stroke of half-time. Endrick, 19, has said he hopes his Lyon loan switch from Real Madrid will help propel him back into the Brazil squad ahead of the World Cup.

Key stats

9 - Ligue 1 leaders Lens have won their last nine matches in all competitions

19 - Marseille's England forward Mason Greenwood has 19 goals this season following his French Cup hat-trick in midweek

7 - The number of weeks since PSG last topped the table

Fixtures

Friday (times GMT)

Monaco v Lorient (1800), Paris Saint-Germain v Lille (2000)

Saturday

Lens v Auxerre (1600), Toulouse v Nice (1800), Angers v Marseille (2005)

Sunday

Strasbourg v Metz (1400), Rennes v Le Havre, Nantes v Paris FC (both 1615), Lyon v Brest (1945)

R.Deshmukh--MT