PSG's defeat leaves Le Guen in peril

PARIS, France -- Manager Paul Le Guen's position at Paris Saint Germain is in even more peril after Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Rennes left the club just outside the relegation zone.

The club's own fans walked out early in protest as the result extended PSG's winless streak to six league games and left them fourth from bottom.

PSG could have slipped into the relegation zone had Toulouse won, but two first-half goals from Mevlud Erding gave fellow strugglers Sochaux a 2-1 victory which lifted them to third from bottom but on the same number of points -- 31 --as PSG.

Rennes went in front just before half-time when PSG defender Mamadou Sakho headed into his own net after a free-kick from Olivier Thomert.

Jimmy Briand then grabbed Rennes' second goal after 50 minutes, being set up by Jeremy Clement -- who had dispossessed Jerome Leroy.

That sparked a dramatic walk-out by around 100 PSG fans who had made the trip to Rennes.

It was the latest protest by the slumping club's fans, the hardcore of whom have already boycotted the first 15 minutes of every home match since December as a way of showing their discontent.

Even PSG reaching the League Cup final has failed to quell their mounting frustration at their team's failings.

However, former Lyon and Rangers boss Le Guen insisted that he could not fault his players' efforts despite an 11th defeat this season.

"It wasn't a motivational problem this evening. My players showed their desire, but they became mentally fragile. The more this (poor spell) continues, the more complicated it becomes. The worry becomes greater.

"I'm not going to complain about bad luck. we were lacking in various areas like control, mental strength, but not in motivation. I get the feeling that in their quest to do well they lose the plot.

"I'm prepared to look at all the answers but we shouldn't do something just for the sake of acting. It's harder than I expected but I'm going to attack it just as I've done since I arrived here."

In Saturday's other games, Nancy consolidated third place with a 2-0 home success over Monaco as a Francois Modesto own-goal and a Youssouf Hadji strike guaranteed the three points.

Nancy now have 48 points, four behind Bordeaux -- who take on champions Lyon on Sunday.

Lyon, knocked out of the Champions League in midweek by Manchester United, sit three points clear at the top.

Marseille, still in the UEFA Cup, will on Sunday seek to obtain a home win over St Etienne which could take the southerners into the third Champions League spot. E-mail to a friend

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