Anelka Set to Start for PSG for the First Time
August 9, 2000 - 0:0
PARIS Record signing Nicolas Anelka is set to start a French league match for the first time when Paris St. Germain play Sedan at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.
Anelka, who began his second spell with PSG with a 37-minute appearance as a substitute in the 1-1 draw away to Rennes last weekend, has never started a league match in his home country.
The French international striker played 10 matches for PSG between 1995-96 but all his appearances were as a second-half substitute.
He left PSG for Arsenal and then joined Real Madrid where he won a European Champions League medal last year before rejoining his first club in a 218 million franc ($31 million dollars) deal last month.
Coach Philippe Bergeroo believes Anelka is ready to cause havoc among rival defenses after taking two weeks to rediscover his match fitness.
"When he came on against Rennes it took two defenders to mark him. I was very satisfied," Bergeroo said.
Anelka's potential strike partner, Brazilian Christian, believes the pair can form a formidable combination.
"We'll play well together but we still need to learn about each other's play," he said. "We have been working very hard in training." PSG will again be without Nigerian international playmaker Jay Jay Okocha against Sedan. He is expected to be sidelined for a further two weeks with a foot injury.
(Reuter)
Anelka, who began his second spell with PSG with a 37-minute appearance as a substitute in the 1-1 draw away to Rennes last weekend, has never started a league match in his home country.
The French international striker played 10 matches for PSG between 1995-96 but all his appearances were as a second-half substitute.
He left PSG for Arsenal and then joined Real Madrid where he won a European Champions League medal last year before rejoining his first club in a 218 million franc ($31 million dollars) deal last month.
Coach Philippe Bergeroo believes Anelka is ready to cause havoc among rival defenses after taking two weeks to rediscover his match fitness.
"When he came on against Rennes it took two defenders to mark him. I was very satisfied," Bergeroo said.
Anelka's potential strike partner, Brazilian Christian, believes the pair can form a formidable combination.
"We'll play well together but we still need to learn about each other's play," he said. "We have been working very hard in training." PSG will again be without Nigerian international playmaker Jay Jay Okocha against Sedan. He is expected to be sidelined for a further two weeks with a foot injury.
(Reuter)