Blanc: Malmo match can shape campaign
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| AFP |
Coach Laurent Blanc said how Paris Saint-Germain deal with Malmo on Tuesday could shape the rest of his ambitious team's UEFA Champions League campaign.
PSG are overwhelming favourites to get points on the board against the Swedish side which eliminated Celtic from the competition in the play-offs. Yet Blanc is taking nothing for granted in the Group A clash at the Parc des Princes.
"The crucial thing is to win tomorrow. Now as before PSG want to win the Champions League. And it will happen one day. When, I don't know, but before thinking about the ultimate success we have to win on Tuesday. The first group match can shape the rest of the campaign.
"We're favourites against Malmo, we have to show that on the pitch."
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Laurent Blanc
"We have to to be at 100%, 120%, to beat Malmo. Before dreaming of better in the competition we have to win points to be in the first two in the group. We're favourites against Malmo, we have to show that on the pitch."
For PSG's talismanic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Tuesday's encounter sees him come up against the team from his hometown and with whom he started his career. He sat out Friday's 2-2 Ligue 1 draw with Bordeaux due to an abdominal injury, with Blanc hopeful he can start.
"His injury is much better and I hope he has a big chance of lining up." On his star forward feeling any extra motivation facing his formative club Blanc commented: "I hope above all that it makes him want to score goals."
While PSG have reached the quarter-final stage in the last three years, Malmo are making only their second group stage appearance following last year's debut campaign.