Lucas Digne under fire at PSG after missing Rennes and Lille games

Lucas Digne's start at Paris Saint-Germain has been far from ideal. The 33-year-old left-back, who joined from Aston Villa this summer for a fee of ten million euros, did not play a single minute in the opening two rounds of Ligue 1. In France, his attitude is already being questioned and the club is demanding a clear change of mindset.

• Digne did not feature in the 2-2 draw against Rennes on matchday one.
• He was also left out of the 2-2 draw with Lille on matchday two.
• L'Equipe has called for a more rebellious and ambitious spirit from him.
• A PSG source warns that he must step up or face serious problems.

Why PSG signed Lucas Digne and what his backup role means

The former Barcelona player arrived at the Parc des Princes with a clear brief: to serve as the alternative to Nuno Mendes on the left side of defence. Nobody expected him to be an undisputed starter, but the club did expect him to compete every week and raise the overall level of the squad. That balance between hierarchy and demand is now under scrutiny.

At 33, after long spells in Spain, England and Italy, Digne knew he was joining a champion's dressing room. PSG, the dominant force in French football, does not tolerate dips in intensity in any position, especially in a season where the Champions League remains the ultimate target.

French media criticism of Digne's attitude at PSG

L'Equipe, the benchmark sports newspaper in France, has been blunt in its assessment. The outlet believes Paris expects a different, more rebellious and ambitious spirit from Digne. The message echoing around the club is that the full-back needs to wake up: accepting a backup role is fine, but he cannot settle into a holiday-like or semi-retired mentality.

It is fine that he accepted the role of second-choice left-back, but he is not on holiday or semi-retired.

The tone from the Parisian press is not a final condemnation, but a warning. Digne needs to react before the club's patience runs out. In a club with so many spotlights, two matchdays without minutes can quickly become a dangerous sign if they are not backed by visible daily work and attitude.

Nuno Mendes remains the undisputed starter at left-back

Portuguese international Nuno Mendes is the clear first choice on the left flank and one of the club's most promising projects. His pace, attacking runs and maturity despite his young age have made him a key piece in Luis Enrique's system. That makes Digne's challenge twofold: he must perform when called upon and also push Mendes so the position does not lose its edge.

However, the season is long and PSG's calendar demands constant rotation across Ligue 1, the domestic cups and the Champions League. Nuno Mendes will not play every match, and those are the moments Digne must seize. The difference between taking those chances or wasting them will define his immediate future at the club.

What PSG demands after draws against Rennes and Lille

The Parisian side has started the domestic campaign with two consecutive draws, 2-2 against Rennes and 2-2 against Lille. It is not the start expected from a team used to dominating French football, and in that context of maximum demand the Digne case becomes even more relevant. The club wants immediate reactions in every department.

An internal PSG source has been clear about the left-back: a passive attitude will not be accepted. The message is that he must fight and work hard to be better than Nuno Mendes, because the Portuguese will not be available for every single game. Adapting to a new club also means winning that daily battle for a place, not just fitting in tactically.

Digne's journey: from Barcelona to Aston Villa and his move to Paris

A product of Lille's academy, Digne moved to Spanish football with Barcelona, where he won major titles before seeking more regular minutes at Roma and later in the Premier League with Everton and Aston Villa. In Birmingham he rediscovered his best form under Unai Emery, which caught PSG's attention as they looked to add experience to the left side of defence.

His ten-million-euro transfer followed a clear market logic: a proven player with international pedigree at a reasonable price for a rotational role. But elite football does not care about labels, and weekly performance is the only argument that sustains a project in Paris.