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Michel: Defensive lapses were my fault

SoccerNews in General Soccer News 18 Sep 2013

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Olympiacos head coach Michel has accepted blame for his team conceding three goals from corners in their 4-1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

Vladimir Weiss cancelled out Edinson Cavani’s opener with a fine solo effort to have the Greek league and cup champions level at half-time at home in Piraeus.

But the hosts conceded three headers, all from corners, in the second half as Thiago Motta scored a brace and Marquinhos the other in the UEFA Champions League Group C clash.

Olympiacos midfielder Andreas Samaris failed to track Motta twice but Michel said conceding from set-pieces was his fault.

“I wasn’t expecting the goals. If you watched them, you might rush to blame Samaris, but I won’t,” Michel said after Tuesday’s game.

“He had a great match in the first half and the way the game unfolded was very cruel on the lad. I’m to blame for the goals because I told the players who to mark.

“The fans applauded the players because they recognised their efforts. They saw a team they liked but they also saw a heavy defeat.”

Michel believes his side were better than the scoreline suggested, despite PSG also missing a second-half penalty when Zlatan Ibrahimovic had his spot-kick kept out by Roberto Jimenez.

“If you didn’t see the game, you would conclude from the scoreline that Paris Saint-Germain won comfortably but that’s not the case,” the Spaniard said.

“We had the opportunities to score, we played well, but we paid dearly for our mistakes as happens at this level.”

Michel played down the significance of the defeat and said his team still had hope in a group which includes Benfica and Anderlecht.

“I’m an optimist and will always prepare my side to win. I’m not satisfied with tonight’s result because I want to win,” the 50-year-old said.

“I’m old but I still have things to learn. We will keep working because this is not a decisive defeat.”

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