Ancelotti plays down PSG slump

Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti denies his team is buckling under the pressure of a Ligue 1 title battle with Montpellier.

PSG have failed to win in their last three games but the 52-year-old Italian has rejected the idea that his side is struggling with the expectations of the owners, fans and media.

“I don’t think our players are scared to win the title,” Ancelotti said ahead of PSG’s game against Nancy on Saturday.

“I think they are excited.

“There is pressure there, of course, and after 18 years, winning the title is an exciting challenge.”

Nancy could be the first team to do the double over PSG this season, if they follow up their 1-0 win at the Parc des Princes in November.

PSG are equal with Montpellier on 60 points, although Montpellier will not play this weekend because their match with Marseille has been postponed.

Nancy are just one place above the relegation zone but Ancelotti knows that PSG cannot avoid any slip ups in their race for the title.

“Nancy are a good team at home,” Ancelotti said.

“They won against Lyon and Montpellier.

“That’s why I think it will be a difficult game, but we firmly believe we will start winning again.”

Nancy’s stadium is one of the few French stadiums with an artificial turf pitch.

But despite the controversy surrounding artificial turf, Ancelotti has refused to prepare the pitch as an excuse if PSG fail.

“We won’t have any problem playing on a synthetic pitch,” Ancelotti said.

“For instance, we did not have any problem playing against Locmine in the Coupe de France back in January.

“We had some difficulty there, but it was not because of the pitch.

“The pitch was OK, like it will be tomorrow.”