Blanc slams PSG´s slow start

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Laurent Blanc criticised his team for their slow start in a 2-1 win over Ajaccio on Saturday.

The Ligue 1 leaders conceded a shock sixth-minute opener when Eduardo tapped in for Ajaccio, who are bottom of the table.

Ezequiel Lavezzi levelled for PSG just prior to half-time before Blaise Matuidi’s diving header gave the visitors victory with 16 minutes remaining.

Blanc was unhappy with the way his side started the encounter and said a lack of concentration cost them the opening goal.

“We started very badly in this game tonight. We knew this game would be tough and we had to work hard like we did against Brest in the Coupe de France (on Wednesday),” Blanc said.

“We should have started well in the opening 20 but we didn’t do that. First, we did not perform well at all. Second, we conceded a goal due to our lack of attention during this phase of the game.

“Even Ajaccio’s players were surprised to take the lead. Ajaccio were better after that and it was difficult because, as you know, in football, you can win by defending very well the entire game.

“We continued to press in the first half to find the goal to level. It was that intent which helped us to come back into this game.

“In the second half we got our chances and could have secured the game much earlier but, give credit to Ajaccio, they never gave up.”

The gutsy victory helped PSG open up a five-point buffer over second-placed Monaco, who drew 1-1 at Montpellier on Friday.

If Lille win at home to Reims on Sunday, they will move four points behind PSG and into second.

The energy used in the 5-2 win over Brest, which came on the back of a Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat-trick, could perhaps have been to blame for PSG’s poor start.

Matuidi said his team deserved their victory over Ajaccio, pleased to collect three points despite the performance.

“The match came straight after Wednesday’s 5-2 win at Brest which took up a lot of energy. The main thing tonight was the win against a team fighting for their survival,” he said.

“We tried to play good football and create chances to score. I think we deserved to win.

“The most important thing was to win and keep moving forward. It’s good to have won and extended our lead in the standings, but there’s still a long way to go this season.

“We showed again that we are no pushovers and that we won’t give up.”