Ancelotti: I want Beckham to stay at PSG next season

Posted Friday, March 29, 2013 by Goal.com

The Parisiens coach revealed that he wants the former Manchester United star to remain at Parc des Princes beyond this summer, and says his side will be ready to face Barcelona

Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed his desire to keep David Beckham at the club beyond his contract expiration in the summer.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder joined on January's transfer deadline day this year, but his deal with les Parisiens is just a short-term one and he is set to leave at the end of June.

However, Ancelotti will have fuelled rumours that the ex-England international could remain at Parc des Princes after his frank admission that he wants PSG to hold on to the veteran.

The Italian told reporters on Thursday: "Beckham is available for tomorrow's game. He's arrived back in Paris and has not missed a training session.

"I am totally for Beckham continuing on next season."

Ancelotti's men face last year's Ligue 1 champions Montpellier on Friday night and the coach has demanded his players concentrate at one match at a time instead of looking ahead at April's battles with Barcelona in the Champions League.

"This is a very important time of the season," he said. We should think about the game tomorrow and not the following matches.

"Montpellier are not in the battle for the title but they are a very good team - dangerous and organised."

After the clash with Montpellier, PSG will face Barca on April 2 at Parc des Princes before the return leg at Camp Nou, and Ancelotti insists he will be thinking up his own strategy for success and not copying Real Madrid's formula.

"Four days to prepare Barcelona is sufficient," he said. "We are not Real Madrid so we will not have the same strategy as them."

Ancelotti also revealed that Thiago Motta will miss their first leg against Barcelona, while Argentine attacker Ezequiel Lavezzi is another absentee for their Montpellier match as he is still recovering from playing at extremely high altitude in Bolivia.

"Blaise Matuidi will hold tomorrow," the former Chelsea boss continued. "Thiago Motta and Lavezzi are not available for tomorrow's game.

"The timing is not a problem, except for Lavezzi is back today with a match at 3000m. Thiago Motta has a right adductor problem. Maybe it will be available for the return leg [against Barca].

"The players who went to play for their national team are now focused on the matches coming up."