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A dramatic stoppage-time winner from Alex ensured new Paris Saint-Germain boss Laurent Blanc got off to a winning start as the Ligue 1 champions came from behind to beat Bordeaux 2-1 on Saturday in the Champions Trophy in Libreville. |
Blanc appeared to be heading for defeat on his competitive debut as PSG coach after Henri Saivet handed French Cup holders Bordeaux a first-half lead but substitute Hervin Ongenda levelled eight minutes from time before Alex snatched a late winning goal.
“It was a very, very difficult match against a good Bordeaux team that we respect and know well,” Blanc told BeIN Sport.
“In the first half we had chances but didn’t convert them. In the second half we struggled physically to find our second wind, but we had the right mentality to equalise and score the second goal.
“It proves that this season every team will be very motivated when they play against PSG, it’s a good example of what awaits us,” Blanc added.
Left-back Lucas Digne, included amongst the substitutes, was the only one of PSG’s three highly-priced new recruits named in the squad with club record signing Edinson Cavani and Brazilian defender Marquinhos not considered ready to feature in the Gabonese capital.
Despite their absence, Ezequiel Lavezzi immediately gave Bordeaux’s defence a scare as he gathered a stray Ludovic Obraniak pass and forced a superb one-handed save from goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso.
A dangerous whipped free-kick from Thiago Motta then again had Bordeaux’s defence in trouble but Thiago Silva failed to properly connect with the goal at his mercy.
PSG though were caught out on 38 minutes as Nicolas Maurice-Belay broke free on the left and crossed for Saivet, who snuck in between Alex and Silva to send a glancing header in off the far post.
Andre Biyogo Poko, playing in front of his home fans, almost doubled Bordeaux’s lead after the interval as he charged through the heart of the PSG defence only to be thwarted by Salvatore Sirigu.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic appeared to have drawn PSG level on 79 minutes after nodding in Christophe Jallet’s cross but the Swede’s effort was incorrectly ruled out for offside.
However, Blanc’s side did finally equalise moments later as Ongenda rounded off a flowing attack by slotting Ibrahimovic’s clipped pass through the legs of Carrasso.
Alex then capped off PSG’s remarkable turnaround five minutes into injury time as he rose to meet a flighted Lucas Moura free-kick, sending a thumping header beyond Carrasso.
The Sweden international is buoyed by the way in which the Ligue 1 champions’ newest signings are adapting to life in France
Zlatan Ibrahimovic claims that Paris Saint Germain are “very strong” and believes that their first silverware of the 2013-14 campaign will act as a catalyst for further success this season.
Les Parisiens came from behind to beat Bordeaux 2-1 in a dramatic Trophee des Champions on Saturday evening to ensure that Laurent Blanc’s reign got off to a winning start.
Consequently, Ibrahimovic firmly believes that PSG are now in the perfect position to build on last season’s historic Ligue 1 success.
“This is the first trophy of the season, the team is very happy,” the striker told reporters after the game. It was not a great game but we won. That was the most important thing. That’s why we came here to bring the trophy home.
“Now we can concentrate on Friday’s game against Montpellier.
“We are a strong team with some fantastic players. We just need to make sure we win by training hard and working as a team. I think we are very strong.”
Ibrahimovic later spoke of his own form and says that it will improve with more game time.
“Regarding my physical condition, I think I still need to play,” the 31-year-old confessed. “This is only my third game, so this is normal. The more I play the better I am.
“Everything is new, new players and a new coach so it needs time. We will find the automation of last year.”
PSG kick off the defence of their Ligue 1 title with an away match against Montpellier.