Ancelotti happy with Champions League preparation

Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti insists his side have had the perfect preparation for their Champions League tie with Valencia.

The former AC Milan boss says they will travel to the Mestalla on Tuesday ‘mentally and physically’ prepared following their 3-1 win over Bastia in Ligue 1 on Friday.

With one eye on the trip to Spain, Ancelotti gave Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ezequiel Lavezzi a brief rest by starting them on the bench.

“We can go into the next match in the Champions League with confidence,” Ancelotti told France Football.

“It’s good preparation because the players have recuperated and we have the time to prepare mentally and physically.

“Menez has had a very good match and was decisive, while it was not difficult to convince Ibra (Ibrahimovic) to start from the bench.

“He understood why just as (Blaise) Matuidi and (Mamadou) Sakho did. There is always a risk of injury and the idea was to avoid it.”

The win over Bastia extends PSG’s lead at the top of Ligue 1 to six points, but Lyon do have a game in hand.

Ancelotti said he was pleased to collect three points, putting the pressure on the chasing pack.

“We won and took three points, which was our goal,” he said.

“These are three important points in the league. The other teams have to play now, but for us the important thing was to keep picking up results.”

Meanwhile, David Beckham will start training with PSG next week and could debut against Sochaux in Ligue 1 on February 17.

“He is coming on Wednesday and will train at the Camp des Loges with the team,” Ancelotti said.

“We’ll see his fitness and whether he can perhaps play the match against Sochaux.”