Paris Saint-Germain’s changing room has descended into ‘two camps’

Paris Saint-Germain’s dressing room has divided into two distinct cliques following their recent run of poor results.

The Ligue 1 giants have endured a difficult month which has seen their season all-but collapse following their shock elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid. 

That result heightened the likelihood of a major overhaul this summer, and results since have only served to reinforce the need for change in the coming months, most notably their heavy defeat at the weekend at the hands of Monaco. 

The manner of the defeat to a side sat seventh in the table and 21 points behind the league leaders was alarming but reports in France suggest the reaction inside the dressing room poses more cause for concern. 

According to RMC Sport, two camps have materialised inside the squad – one including all South American stars and another including those that speak French. 

Quotes attributed to someone close to the squad suggested that the tension between the two factions ‘blew up a bit’ as a result of their chastening defeat at the Stade Louis-II. 

One further development was the revelation that no player took the opportunity in the aftermath of defeat to address the issues the team had come up against on the field.

According to the report, not one player attempted to start an inquisition into the heavy 3-0 defeat in Monaco, with silence prevailing in the changing room and on the trip back to the French capital. 

Reports in France suggest two groups have developed – South Americans and French speakers

One issue picked up on to illustrate the lack of unity within the squad was the difference in attitude shown by players when certain individuals are fouled on the pitch.

The difference on Sunday between the reaction of team-mates when Neymar was fouled – an action that resulted in several players surrounding the officials – compared to when, for example, Achraf Hakimi was fouled, was notable. 

It is reported that Hakimi has a strong relationship with Kylian Mbappe , who has been heavily linked with a departure from the club this summer. 

It leaves boss Mauricio Pochettino with a tough task in uniting a fractured dressing room in a bid to complete a season that is essentially all-but finished. With the club having already been knocked out of the French Cup, all that remains is to sew up the league title, with a 12-point lead over second-place Marseille still intact.

Pochettino himself also has an uncertain future at the club. Speaking after their defeat by Monaco at the weekend, the Argentine said: ‘We are in a situation where we have to ask ourselves with the club and find the best way to help PSG.

‘Several people are involved in a club like PSG, so we have to find common ideas and visions.’

It leaves boss Mauricio Pochettino with a tough job in order to re-unite the dressing room