St Etienne vs Paris St Germain - Laurent Blanc warns players against complacency

Posted Saturday, January 30, 2016 by PA

Paris St Germain boss Laurent Blanc has warned his players they must not get distracted by the looming prospect of next month's Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea.

Blanc is determined to guard against complacency as his side, 21 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 ahead of this weekend's fixtures, face sixth-placed St Etienne on Sunday.

And he has vowed that any threat to Paris' proud unbeaten record this season could lead him to make major changes to his squad and deny some stars their place in the big European nights to come.

Blanc told a press conference: "If we do focus on the Champions League then it is not a good solution. Zero risk does not exist.

"If you start to try to preserve your condition, to be careful and not to go 100 per cent into the tackle, it is best that you do not play against Chelsea."

Meanwhile Blanc admitted Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani is struggling for confidence after being consigned to the substitutes' bench for the majority of the campaign.

Cavani's last goal for the club came in the Coupe de la Ligue win over St Etienne in December and he continues to be linked with a big-money move away from the club.

Blanc added: "He is in trouble because when a striker fails to score he starts to lack in confidence.

"He has had his opportunities but the competition has improved and it is my role to help. In his aggressiveness and his defence I have nothing to complain about, and his behaviour is better."

Blanc confirmed defender David Luiz will face a late fitness test ahead of the trip to St Etienne after limping off in Wednesday night's Coupe de la Ligue win over Toulouse.

Marquinhos and Marco Verratti are expected to be passed fit but Thiago Silva will not be risked by Blanc after only recently recovering from injury.

Meanwhile the hosts go into the game on the back of last Sunday's disappointing 1-1 draw at struggling Reims.

And St Etienne boss Christophe Galtier admitted his side's hectic schedule, and a mounting injury list, was continuing to hinder their chances of achieving a European place.

Galtier said: "I have talked to the players about the expectations I will have in February - I have never experienced such a chain of matches and I'm not satisfied but it's the reality.

"I have 17 players at my disposal on Sunday which is very little and at the club we have not satisfied ourselves with what we have seen since the beginning of the year."