Blanc: PSG suffered for opening win

Paris Saint-Germain manager Laurent Blanc feels his side were made to suffer against Nantes as they edged to a 2-1 victory on Sunday.

The defending Ligue 1 champions clinched their first victory of the campaign at the Stade de la Beaujoire, Ezequiel Lavezzi netting the winner after Edinson Cavani’s opener had been cancelled out by an Alex own goal.

However, PSG were pushed all the way by Michel Der Zakarian’s newly-promoted side, and Blanc was quick to credit the hosts for their determined performance.

“Everyone expected this victory,” Blanc said.

“It was difficult because Nantes played a beautiful game.

“Certain situations should have been better managed, we have not done that, we have suffered up to the last second.”

Former France manager Blanc admitted that it had not been a great performance from PSG, but stressed that a lack of match preparation is affecting his team’s displays.

“I knew before the game that the rapport may not be perfect,” he added.

“We are behind many teams in terms of preparation.

“We have very high level attackers that many teams envy, there is a balance to be struck.”