The 1996 Cup Winners' Cup champions are in 14th place in the French league with only 16 points from 14 matches, but PSG president Alain Cayzac continues to stand by his coach.

``If I changed the coach tomorrow, I would be very popular,'' Cayzac said Monday. ``I would be called courageous. But you should only change when you are certain it is for the best ... not for the sake of it.''

Goalkeeper Mickael Landreau, who was signed by Lacombe, also backs his coach.

``A lot of good things can still happen this season,'' Landreau said. ``It's important to get behind the coach.''

On Oct. 11, Cayzac let go of midfielder Vikash Dhorasoo after he openly accused Lacombe of inventing injuries to the press in order to justify not picking him.

PSG, which has lost half of its home matches this season, trails leader Lyon by 21 points and is only five points above the relegation zone.

The Parc des Princes, once a fortress for the team that was founded in 1970, has become an easy road trip for other teams in the league. The team's previous worst start was in 2004-05 with 17 points at the same stage of the season.

Lacombe, who took over at PSG from Laurent Fournier in January, has clashed with players, and captain Pauleta has accused some teammates of lacking motivation following Saturday's 2-0 loss to visiting Bordeaux.

``When we go 1-0 down, we stop playing,'' Pauleta told French television. ``I don't understand how some players can't be motivated playing at home in front of 40,000 fans.''

Lacombe has banned all his players _ except Pauleta _ from speaking to cable television channel Canal Plus.

``There is psychological work to be done,'' Lacombe told France Soir newspaper. ``I want my players to show greater unity.''

Under Lacombe, PSG is averaging 1.14 goals per game _ far lower than the 1.63 goals per game that the team averaged under Fournier. His team has won eight of 33 league games, with 13 draws.

``We're in a difficult position, but we're on the right path,'' Lacombe said.

Former PSG coach Vahid Halilhodzic was fired in February 2005 after averaging 1.2 goals per game in 25 matches.

Since winning the French Cup on April 29, PSG has lost five of nine home games, conceding 17 goals and scoring 12.

This season, Mario Yepes conceded four penalties in two games early in the season and was dropped. Pauleta was sent off for the first time in his career for swearing at a lineswoman against Rennes on Oct. 28.

Lacombe and Pauleta claimed referees were picking on PSG to implement new and harsher league rule changes concerning shirt-pulling.

PSG plays Hapoel Tel Aviv at Parc des Princes in the UEFA Cup on Thursday and then plays at Nantes on Sunday.

The team could do with a league win to keep away from the relegation zone, but PSG has won only two away games in the last calendar year.

At least things have improved off the field for PSG.

Last season, a violent feud between PSG fans located at opposite ends of the stadium _ the ``Tigris Mystic'' from Auteuil, and the ``Independents'' from Boulogne _ had more than a dozen clashes, including a service-station ambush which left five people hospitalized.

The Tigris Mystic have since been dissolved.