Eric Roy’s strong words on PSG’s rivalry in Ligue 1

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·15 August 2025

Eric Roy’s strong words on PSG’s rivalry in Ligue 1

Éric Roy, coach of Stade Brestois (61 years old), told Le Parisien that Paris Saint-Germain remains in a “normal” dynamic after their Champions League triumph, despite a whirlwind one-week preparation. In his view, the European champions still hold a significant lead in Ligue 1, and no serious contender seems capable of challenging their national supremacy this season.

Roy: “They showed they were the best team in Europe”

“Do you also think that Paris will need to digest their Champions League success in order to be dominant in the league? Not really. They’re in a normal state, the only difference being that they went all the way in the competition they hoped to win for the first time. They showed they were the best team in Europe. Of course, their preparation was less thorough, they only had a week to get back into it, but on a national scale I still don’t see any competitors for them, even if some clubs have invested and are trying to close the gap a little.”

Roy: “OM can at least start trying to narrow the gap a little”

Despite their reinforcements, OM still doesn’t seem strong enough to compete with Paris in your eyes? OM can at least start trying to narrow the gap with PSG. After all, as we’ve seen in the past, Lille became champions under QSI, Montpellier did it too at the start of the era. Anything is possible, but you need a year when everything aligns perfectly. Knowing the mentality of the coach and the Marseille fans, there’s always the will to move mountains. Of course, they’re not the favorites. They want to do it. Are they capable? That will be one of the lessons of this season.”

Roy: “To say they’re not the favorites for the league would be complicated”

Paris is still clearly on top? They were in the Champions League against every team they faced in the knockout rounds. When you see their display in the final (against Inter Milan)… To say they’re not the favorites for the league would be complicated. If I said the opposite, people would think I was a bit crazy.”

Paris Saint-Germain has built its national dominance on one constant: consistency. Where their rivals almost always experience a slump—a series of draws or defeats that derails their season—Paris knows how to manage the pace of a long league campaign. It’s a machine that absorbs setbacks: an injury to a key player, a run of matches, or even the aftermath of a European title.

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Their deep squad, the experience of their leaders, and a winning culture ingrained for over a decade allow PSG to maintain a very high points average from August to May. Other clubs, no matter how ambitious, have yet to find the formula to sustain this intensity without faltering, and that’s often where Paris pulls ahead.

Still, Paris must be wary—Montpellier, Monaco, and Lille have all managed exceptional seasons to overcome the Parisians. It’s still possible, and that’s also why you have to pick up points quickly to put on the pressure, rather than give confidence back to any opponent. We can’t wait for the season to start, but for now, it’s hard to disagree with Eric Roy: PSG are favorites to retain their title.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.