Ligue 1 clubs focus on survival as PSG dominates ahead of new season
The Guardian Sport • 2 min read • Latest: Aug 21, 2026, 7:00 AM
Last updated Aug 21, 2026

As the Ligue 1 season approaches, many clubs are prioritizing financial stability and player development over competition with Paris Saint-Germain. PSG's recent back-to-back Champions League titles have shifted the competitive, leaving teams like Marseille and Lille aiming merely to remain viable. Expectations have been tempered, with clubs recognizing that finishing second has become a realistic goal amid PSG's dominance. The season begins against a backdrop of uncertainty for these clubs, which must adapt to the overwhelming strength of PSG.
- •Ligue 1 season set to start soon amid PSG's dominance
- •Clubs now concentrate on financial stability and developing players
- •PSG's recent Champions League titles have reshaped competition outlook
- •Marseille and other teams view finishing second as an aspiration
- •The shift in focus reflects broader challenges within French football
- 7:00 AMThe Guardian Sport — PSG are the best team in Europe. The rest of Ligue 1 are just trying to survive
"Success for most French clubs is staying afloat financially and developing players for buyers in the Premier League By Get French Football News On the eve of a new Ligue 1 season, many clubs seem a little distracted. Even those accustomed to competing at the top have concerns that transcend the pitch. In a league that contains the greatest team on the continent, the focus of the majority of clubs has shifted to surviving and providing, rather than competing. Any fighting spirit has long since been kicked out of Paris Saint-Germain’s competitors; back-to-back Champions League titles will do that. It feels like a long time ago since Kylian Mbappé moved to Real Madrid on a free transfer, leaving behind a scent of opportunity that filled the nostrils of Marseille, Monaco and Lille. Roberto De Zerbi was bullish when he joined Marseille. “I’m not here to finish second,” said the manager, who has since moved to Tottenham. Finishing second has now become an aspiration, especially for a club such as Marseille, given their predicament. Continue reading...
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