PSG will be crowned champions of France (again) at some point in the near future.
It’ll probably happen this Wednesday away to Nantes.
Having won seven more games than their closest rival, and with a 17-point cushion, they have undoubtedly been the strongest team in Ligue 1 from the off.
But I can’t be the only one who thinks their inevitable title win has been rather… well, pathetic.
PLAY FOR FREE – WIN £5K ON DREAM TEAM WEEKENDER THIS WEEKEND
Many neutrals hate PSG because of their financial might.
The day they spent £200million on Neymar, taking a top-five player in the world away from one of the very few leagues suitable for his standard, they made a lot of enemies.
Bought success pales into significance to earned glory — nearly all football fans can agree on that.
But I don’t hate them for wielding a chequebook.
I pity them because of their failure to muster any semblance of admirable character.
If you’re going to be a financial superpower who recruits the world’s best players, the least you can do is perform to an appropriate level — take Man City for example.
PSG are nothing more than flat-track bullies.
The term ‘bottlers’ is used too frequently in football these days, but it’s appropriate for the Parisians in the Champions League.
Two years ago they fluffed a 4-0 advantage as they succumbed to Barcelona (and some questionable refereeing) at the Nou Camp in a memorable 6-1 defeat.
Last year, Real Madrid taught them the value of experience and elite mentality — two things that can’t be bought.
And this year, a Man United side far less formidable than past iterations out-willed Thomas Tuchel’s troops at the Parc des Princes.
All that money and not even a European quarter-final to show for it in the last three years.
Contemptible, isn’t it?
Their failures in the Champions League have only served to highlight the laughable dynamic in France’s top flight.
Monaco’s entertaining crop of 2016/17 (Bernardo Silva, Kylian Mbappe, Benjamin Mendy, etc) aside, PSG have had little in the way of substantial domestic competition since before 2012.
And yet they’ve still contrived to appear weak at times.
The current side could have wrapped up the league in either of their last two fixtures.
But with Neymar and Edinson Cavani sidelined with injury, they drew to Strasbourg and lost to Lille.
And the nature of their performances was so infuriating, and just so PSG.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting somehow contrived to miss from zero yards at home to Strasbourg — a representation of their apparent need for an overpowered front three of Mbappe, Neymar and Cavani.
At Lille, they had the opportunity to beat their closest rivals (though they are hardly close) away from home to seal the title.
Theoretically, this was the most difficult fixture possible and so it offered PSG a chance to triumph with a fraction of heart.
The result? A 5-1 defeat.
Really, PSG? Your worst league defeat in 19 years? That’s what you offer when presented with the vaguest hint of a serious challenge?
It’s fitting they’ll probably lift the trophy at Nantes on Wednesday evening, the same night the Champions League semi-finalists are confirmed.
While PSG limp over the line in a one-horse race, Europe’s genuine superpowers will take another step towards true greatness.
Something the Parisians, in their current state, will never achieve.
Poor PSG — never contenders, forever pretenders.
NEXT: 5 precise moments that make Barcelona v Man United a classic Champions League rivalry