SPAIN: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti keen to make a good impression in the boisterous Mestalla as they prepare to meet Valencia in Champions League

Record ID: 836628

  • Title: SPAIN: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti keen to make a good impression in the boisterous Mestalla as they prepare to meet Valencia in Champions League
  • Date: 11th February 2013
  • Summary: VALENCIA, SPAIN (FEBRUARY 11, 2013) (REUTERS) PSG PLAYERS TRAINING AT MESTALLA STADIUM PLAYERS ATTENDING TO COACH CARLO ANCELOTTI ANCELOTTI DIRECTING SESSION / STRIKER ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC WARMING UP PLAYERS TRAINING MIDFIELDER LUCAS MOURA AT SESSION MOURA TRAINING IBRAHIMOVIC TRAINING FORWARD EZEQUIEL LAVEZZI TRAINING IBRAHIMOVIC TRAINING VARIOUS OF MIDFIELDER MARCO VERRATTI TRAINING MIDFIELDER JAVIER PASTORE TRAINING VARIOUS OF PLAYERS TRAINING VARIOUS OF ANCELOTTI ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM CLOSE OF LAVEZZI AT NEWS CONFERENCE LAVEZZI AND ANCELOTTI SEATED AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (French) PSG COACH CARLO ANCELOTTI, SAYING: "I think that it is true that Paris Saint-Germain have great counter-attacking skills. We have a lot of fast players. Our goal is to play football not only counter-attack. In my opinion it is going to be (playing against Valencia) a good test to evaluate our capacity to play our football and not only counter-attack but to keep the possession of the ball and organise the defence." NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (French) PSG COACH CARLO ANCELOTTI, SAYING: "I think it is an open tie because we play against a well organised team that have skilful players. Both teams are going through a good moment. Valencia have re-engaged its game, the quality if the game, the organisation and Paris have done so. So in my opinion it is an open game." MEDIA PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PSG FORWARD EZEQUIEL LAVEZZI, SAYING: "Add a player like him (David Beckham) is important and I don't think it is just a marketing stake as you said. Here is the coach and he will assess whether he has to play or not. We will wait him with open arms." LAVEZZI AND ANCELOTTI AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM VALENCIA PLAYERS AT TRAINING SESSION DEFENDER ADIL RAMI TRAINING PLAYERS TRAINING MIDFIELDER SOFIANE FEGHOULI AT SESSION FORWARD PABLO PIATTI AT SESSION RAMI TRAINING PLAYERS TRAINING COACH ERNESTO VALVERDE AT SESSION STRIKER ROBERTO SOLDADO WARMING UP VARIOUS OF PLAYERS WARMING UP
  • Embargoed: 26th February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • City:
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA8ERZUJGUHFMT8AC9OW70XUKJD
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  • Story Text: Paris Saint-Germain are more than a counter-attacking team, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday (February 11).
    Early in the day Valencia coach Ernesto Valverde said his side was expecting a counter-attacking team like Real Madrid rather than a possession-hungry side like Barcelona when they host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday (February 12) but Ancelotti said his team does not only rely on fast counter-attacks.
    "I think that it is true that Paris Saint-Germain have great counter-attacking skills. We have a lot of fast players. Our goal is to play football not only counter-attack. In my opinion it is going to be (playing against Valencia) a good test to evaluate our capacity to play our football and not only counter-attack but to keep the possession of the ball and organise the defence," the Italian coach told a news conference previewing the last 16 first leg at the Mestalla.
    PSG's trip to Valencia pits the wealthy French team against one of many La Liga clubs struggling to stay competitive after years of financial struggle.
    The contrast is less than flattering for Valencia who, rather than splurging hundreds of millions of euros on top players, have been forced year-in year-out to sell leading performers like David Villa, David Silva and Juan Mata.
    They are now effectively owned by the Valencia government after the club's foundation was unable to keep up with payments on a bank loan guaranteed by the regional administration that was used to buy a stake in the club.
    The club had debts of almost 400 million euros (338.5 million pounds) in the 2010-11 season, according to a recent study by an accounting professor at the University of Barcelona, and a new stadium under construction has been left half built.
    Qatari-backed PSG, by contrast, have used their financial windfall to hire Champions League-winning Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti and players such as Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Brazil defender Thiago Silva and Argentina forward Ezequiel Lavezzi although Silva and midfielder Thiago Motta will be missing through injury.
    PSG are riding high at the top of Ligue 1 after Friday's (February 8) 3-1 win at home to Bastia while Valencia are improving but still down in fifth place in La Liga and in danger of missing out on a Champions League spot next season.
    Although the economic gap between the two teams is noticeable and stakes place the French side as the favourite to qualify for the next round, Ancelotti said the tie is balanced.
    "I think it is an open tie because we play against a well organised team that have skilful players. Both teams are going through a good moment. Valencia have re-engaged its game, the quality if the game, the organisation and Paris have done so. So in my opinion it is an open game," Ancelotti said before directing a training session.
    The attention may turn to the stands on Tuesday after coach Ancelotti confirmed new signing David Beckham will be watching the game.
    The 37-year-old English midfielder joined the club in the winter transfer window and is yet to makes his first appearance for Le Parisiens.
    Beckham, who announced he will donate all his wage to charity, had no chance of making his debut for PSG against Valencia after missing a flight from New York due to the harsh weather conditions.
    Asked if Beckham's signing was a marketing move by PSG, Lavezzi said it was Ancelotti's task to decide the role the player will have in the team.
    "Add a player like him (David Beckham) is important and I don't think it is just a marketing steak as you said. Here is the coach and he will assess whether he has to play or not. We will wait him with open arms," he said.
    With three goals, the Argentine forward is the team's top scorer in the European competition.
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