Ancelotti: PSG can rival Europe's best

Paris Saint-Germain's main players: From left to right, general manager Leonardo, coach Carlo Ancelotti and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

PSG owner Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani (c) takes in a PSG training session in the Qatari capital Doha prior to the 2011/12 season.

The signing of Argentina midfielder Javier Pastore for a reported fee of $57 million in June 2011 demonstrated the new wealth at PSG's disposal.

PSG appointed former Juventus and Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti in December in a bid to secure the club's first French league title since 1994. The vastly experienced Italian has won the presitgious European Champions League twice with AC Milan.

PSG are battling at the top of the table for their first Ligue 1 title in 18-years. Here, the players celebrate a late equaliser against 2008 French champions Lyon which secured a point in an enthralling 4-4 draw.

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PSG's main players

New owner

Splashing out on Pastore

That's your Ancelotti

Gunning for glory

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(CNN) -- Paris Saint-Germain's list of honors are modest compared to the achievements of Europe's top football clubs, but what the French side lacks in history is made up for in ambition.

Since being taken over by Qatar Sports Investments in May 2011, significant steps have been taken, on and off the pitch, to make sure PSG can challenge for major titles -- and new manager Carlo Ancelotti is under no illusions about what is expected of him.

"This club does not have a big history like Milan, like other clubs like Manchester United, like Real Madrid, like Barcelona," the 52-year-old, who replaced Antoine Kombouare in December, told CNN. "The aim is to reach that kind of level."

Formed in 1970 as a merger between Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain, PSG's last Ligue 1 crown -- and only second overall -- came in 1994.

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That was followed two years later by a European Cup Winners' Cup triumph but, added to a collection of domestic knockout competition trophies, the haul falls well short of what new PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi expects.

Ancelotti has won Europe's top club competition as both player and coach with AC Milan, and is well aware of Al-Khelaifi's vision for PSG and the need for him to deliver Champions League football to the Parc des Princes next season.

"His objective is very clear," the former Chelsea manager said. "To build a good image of the club, to build one of the top clubs in Europe.

"He wants my experience, my knowledge to help the club and the team to improve quickly. He has a fantastic passion for football and he knows everything."

Putting the pride back into PSG

PSG's spending spree so far includes the signing of Argentina playmaker Javier Pastore for a record French transfer fee. The club targeted superstar David Beckham and Argentina forward Carlos Tevez in December and January but both players ended up staying at their respective teams, Los Angeles Galaxy and Manchester City.

Milan striker Alexandre Pato was another to turn down PSG's advances, but he and fellow Brazil star Kaka of Real Madrid may yet move to Paris when the transfer window reopens in July.

"In the summer I think the market will be more open," Ancelotti said. "We will have more possibilities as compared to January but I think all the players can come.

"The club tried to reach an agreement with Beckham but I was not here. I was not involved in this thing and I think they were very close; Beckham (said he might) come here but at the end decided to stay in Los Angeles to play with Galaxy.

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"Tevez was a different thing because Tevez's first choice was Milan, but he had a problem with Milan. The second choice was PSG but we didn't find an agreement economical with him and we were not able to buy for this reason."

Ancelotti's appointment at PSG has also seen him reunited with Leonardo, who he managed in two separate spells at Milan. Leonardo also spent time working above Ancelotti at the San Siro after being appointed Milan's technical director in 2008.

"I have a good experience because he was my player in Milan and he was my boss in Milan at the same time. So I have a very good relationship," the former Italy international said.

"But I think that one of the reasons I am here is because Leonardo knows me very well and knows what kind of a job I can do, so I think when we met for the first time I think we were agreed on everything."