Paris Saint Germain vs Montpellier preview - Blanc: PSG must regroup

Posted Saturday, December 20, 2014 by PA

Laurent Blanc accepts Paris St Germain must improve their faltering recent form if they are to go into the winter break with a win over Montpellier.

Unbeaten in all competitions this season until last Wednesday, PSG followed a Champions League loss to Barcelona with a shock first Ligue 1 defeat against Guingamp and remain a point behind leaders Marseille.

Blanc told L'Equipe: "We had this situation last year as well. It's not a new situation.

"When you lose two games in a row, you have to concentrate on the next game because the most important thing is results, is to get going again with a win.

"That is why the Coupe de la Ligue match against Ajaccio, even though it will not live long in the memory, was important because it allowed us to get back to winning ways."

PSG won that match 3-1, though they had to come from behind with late goals from Serge Aurier and Jean-Christophe Bahebeck.

A much-changed side also saw starts for midfielders Adrien Rabiot and Clement Chantome, with Edinson Cavani at the focal point of Blanc's attack and defender David Luiz wearing the captain's armband.

Blanc hopes the rest for several of his regular starters will prove beneficial.

"Physically they are ready, there is only one match left to play (before the break)," he said.

"Mentally, I hope the break has helped them and that it will show against Montpellier."

Opposite number Rolland Courbis takes his team to the Parc des Princes on the back of a 3-3 draw with Lens and a 4-0 win over Rennes, and is looking for more goals.

"We will see if we can confirm our recent attacking progress and I hope, no matter what the score, we can score at least two goals at the Parc," he told French media.

"I don't know if that is too ambitious or not, but it is our objective."

He added, however: "I will let you into a secret. If Zlatan (Ibrahimovic), (Marco) Verratti and (Javier) Pastore are on form, I don't see how we can stop PSG!"

The good news for Courbis is that Pastore's calf problem will keep him out for the game - but fellow Argentinian Ezequiel Lavezzi is expected to be fit after a knee injury.