Ancelotti hails PSG progress

Carlo Ancelotti believes Paris Saint-Germain will be considered a force to be reckoned with after their narrow defeat to Barcelona.

PSG bowed out of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on away goals following a 3-3 aggregate draw with La Liga leaders Barca, having led in the second leg at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

Ancelotti, twice a Champions League winner as a coach with AC Milan, expects the continent’s best to sit up and take notice of the team from the Parc des Princes.

“Everybody admits now that PSG are a very important team in Europe,” he said.

“For this reason, I think it will not be difficult to recruit new players (for next season). Paris has became an important place this year and it could become more important the next year.

“We had a great opportunity to progress to the semi-finals. But we were not able to win. This game was very important for us. The team showed that it was competitive against all the major teams. And to be competitive in Europe was the objective this season, we showed that.

“I was surprised to see a team with this courage, this character, this personality. We played our best game this season against one of the best teams in the world. It could be a good start. With this beginning, PSG can expect a great future.”

PSG return to domestic action away to struggling Troyes on Saturday.

While Ancelotti cautioned against complacency going into a game against a team bottom of the table, he intends to keep faith with the players who gave such a good account of themselves last week.

“After the game against Barcelona, I don’t want to change anything,” he said.

“A team who plays like it played Wednesday, should not change. At this moment, I cannot think of replacing any players. Because all the players did a great job against Barcelona.

“Against Troyes, it will be different.

“We have to show concentration because Troyes is a team fighting not to go down. They will be motivated against us. They will play a strong game. We have to be ready to play a difficult opposition.”