French Roundup

Yakin has surgery despite PSG transfer threat

PARIS (Reuters) -- Switzerland midfielder Hakan Yakin had groin surgery on Friday, ignoring a threat by Paris St Germain to scrap his transfer from Basel if he went ahead with the operation.

"We have given notice to FIFA that Yakin's transfer from Swiss club Basel will be scrapped if the operation goes ahead," PSG said in a statement.

"Hakan Yakin has decided to follow the advice of his Swiss doctor and undergo surgery for a hernia. That is precisely the opposite of the PSG medical staff's advice, and therefore the club's, who categorically refute the existence of a left groin hernia."

Later, the Swiss Football Assciation said Yakin had undergone surgery at a Zurich clinic.

SFV spokesman Pierre Benoit said: "Hakan Yakin underwent surgery today at 11.00 at the Hirslanden Clinic in Zurich. As yet there is no news about the surgery and how it went.

"We cannot comment about his situation at Paris Saint Germain."

PSG coach Vahid Halilhodzic told journalists he was puzzled by the behavior of the 26-year-old Yakin who returned to Basel on Thursday.

"We have been trying to talk him out of the operation but he doesn't want to communicate. His mother and his brother are not aware of his operation," he said.

"The doctor of the Swiss national team is against surgery and so are the best specialists in Paris. They all said that the hernia simply doesn't exist. If he goes ahead with his decision he will have to face the consequences."

Yakin, who has 25 caps for Switzerland, joined PSG at the beginning of the month for an undisclosed fee but a club spokesman said his transfer had not been ratified yet.

"A clause stipulates that his former Swiss club are responsible for his mental and physical health until the deal is ratified," he added.

Nice looking for another summer hit

PARIS (Reuters) -- Nice travel to newly-promoted Le Mans in France's Ligue 1 on Saturday looking to continue their table-topping start to the season for a second year in a row.

Last season the club from the Cote d'Azur, just back in the top flight after promotion, led Ligue 1 after four games, stayed top until December and ended up ninth, qualifying for the Intertoto Cup.

"Are we the hit of the summer?" asked coach Gerhard Rohr. "Maybe, I certainly would like us to be. But for the time being, the only thing I can say is that we already have our the rhythm thanks to our Intertoto games."

"We'll see where we stand after meeting Le Mans and hosting Ajaccio, particularly because we had difficulties against the so called second-rated teams last season, maybe because it was easier to motivate ourselves against the big guns."

After wins over AJ Auxerre and Sochaux, Nice top the table with six points above Lille, Olympique Marseille and AC Ajaccio on goal difference.

Marseille, who registered a morale-boosting win at Austria Vienna in the Champions League third qualifying round on Wednesday, play on Sunday at RC Lens, who opened their UEFA campaign with a 3-0 win over Torpedo Kutaisi of Georgia.

All the other matches are on Saturday when Lille travel to promoted Toulouse, while Ajaccio host Nantes.

Tricky trip

Champions Olympique Lyon, three points behind the four early pacesetters, face a tricky journey to Montpellier where they have only won twice in 30 years.

Lyon lost 3-0 there on their way to their 2002 title and Remy Vercoutre, now a substitute goalkeeper with the champions, was on the winning side that day and thinks he knows the secret of Montpellier's success.

"Montpellier chairman Louis Nicollin was born in Lyon," he said. "There is nothing more important to him than beating his hometown team and I can tell you he has been psyching up his players all week, attending every training session."

Winless Girondins Bordeaux will be trying to get their season on track at En Avant Guingamp, who have also lost both of their openers.

AJ Auxerre, the third club to have suffered two defeats, travel to RC Strasbourg who have a win and a draw under their belts.

Paris St Germain could once again find themselves on the brink of a crisis already if they lose at promoted Metz and remain stuck on a single point from three games.

"Our team is not very strong-willed and I'm not happy with the form of some players," said new coach Vahid Halilhodzic.

A month before making their return to the Champions League, Monaco, who welcome Bastia to the principality, will be looking for a confidence boost after going down 3-1 at Lyon last weekend.

"We overestimated ourselves," midfielder Jerome Rothen said. "I had the feeling we were back to our shortcomings of two years ago."

 

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