Rothen resurgence raises PSG

Jérôme Rothen was all smiles at the Parc des Princes on Sunday. The midfielder had been the driving force behind Paris Saint-Germain FC's first league win since October and the relief was palpable as the capital side eased their relegation fears.

Coaching change
"It's a long time since we last scored four times here, isn't it?" Rothen joked after the 4-2 defeat of his former club AS Monaco FC. It had also been a while since the 28-year-old had looked so happy. Rothen seemed to be on his way out only last month after falling out of Guy Lacombe's plans, but the coach's sudden departure changed all that.

Fresh challenge
"I had found another team," Rothen says. "I won't say the name but everything was fixed. I was about to leave when Paul Le Guen replaced Mr Lacombe. It was a question of hours." Le Guen though quickly made it plain to the French international that he still had a future in the capital. "He convinced me to carry on," admits Rothen, a Paris native who supported PSG as a child.

Central role
Le Guen moved Rothen in from the left wing to the centre and PSG were soon reaping the rewards. "Whatever the role, I'm just happy to be back in the team. But playing in the centre is interesting as you initiate action more than you do on the flank." Marcelo Gallardo played alongside Rothen at Monaco and he has been drafted in to play on the left with positive results. "We combine very well," Rothen said.

Confidence
Rothen will up come against another former Monaco team-mate, Akis Zikos, in the first leg of his side's Round of 32 tie against AEK Athens FC at the Spyros Louis stadium this evening. Both players were in the Monaco team that crushed AEK 4-0 in the Principality during the French side's run to the UEFA Champions League final in 2004 and Rothen also shone during the goalless draw between the two teams in Athens that season. That experience could prove useful on Wednesday. "It won't be the same team of course but I know how Greek teams fight hard, especially at home," Rothen said. "But with our shape at the moment, we can win and make the second leg easier."

'Prestigious'
Before then comes the second big test of the week, the Ligue 1 trip to fellow UEFA Cup contenders AS Nancy-Lorraine on Saturday as PSG continue their fight against relegation. "The UEFA Cup is prestigious, but it's true that the league is first in our minds," added Rothen. What better way to lift spirits ahead of the trip to Nancy than with success in Athens? Now that really would bring a smile to Rothen's face.