Blanc admits Cavani is hampered by PSG tactics

Laurent Blanc has admitted striker Edinson Cavani is unhappy with his role in the Paris Saint-Germain first-team system.

Cavani, who signed for a reported fee of €64.5million from Napoli in 2013, has regularly been deployed in a wide position with the French champions, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic accommodated in a central role.

The Uruguay international has scored 13 goals in 24 appearances this season but a report in L’Equipe on Tuesday claimed he has finally grown tired of his role under Blanc and will push for a transfer at the end of the season.

Blanc concedes his formation does not play to Cavani’s strengths but has praised him for his goal return, telling a media conference: “Our system does not allow Cavani to show his qualities at 100 per cent, and yet his statistics are good.

“I can imagine that Cavani wants us to play differently but I also have a group to satisfy.

“I have a great trust and admiration for Edi. [But] football is a team sport. The results are good and the majority of the players love the way we play. It’s hard to have a change of tactics for one player, we have the results and the play fits my philosophy.”

Blanc also played down suggestions that Cavani’s situation is becoming problematic for PSG, following a meeting in Doha during the mid-season break.

He continued: “I want to be precise. There were six of us during this meeting in Doha. We have several in the year to talk about everything, things to improve…

“We talked about Cavani, yes. We talked about the team, players, medical staff. But Cavani is not a problem. There is a situation that had to be discussed. It was a behaviour problem.”

PSG turn their attentions to the Coupe de la Ligue this week against Lyon and Blanc is determined to take another step towards defending the trophy against a side who dominated France’s top flight between 2002 and 2008.

“Lyon are a team who dominated in France and broke records. That gives us a motivation to beat them,” he added.

“We have to try to be at our best possible form in the second half of the season.”