Paris St Germain vs Ajax preview - Blanc: We need to beat Ajax

Posted Monday, November 24, 2014 by PA

Laurent Blanc insists Paris St Germain will not ease up despite having already secured qualification for the Champions League knockout stages.

The French champions have won three of their four games thus far, with their only dropped points coming in their opening 1-1 draw with Tuesday's opponents Ajax.

But they are only one point ahead of Barcelona and while all signs point to the pair's meeting in the final round of fixtures being crucial, coach Blanc is not looking that far ahead.

He said at his pre-match press conference, televised on the club's website: "Before thinking of Barcelona, we first have to think of the match against Ajax.

"If we want the game against Barcelona to be decisive, we need to win tomorrow.

"I have a deep respect for Ajax, they have some very good attacking players. They always develop good young attackers and that is the case again.

"That is why they are a special club. (Christian) Eriksen has gone (to Tottenham) but now you have (Davy) Klaassen, (Anwar) El Ghazi.

"They develop players then sell them when top European clubs come calling. It's what they have always done and always will."

Blanc will be without midfielders Marco Verratti and Yohan Cabaye are absent, as are goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez and forward Jean-Christophe Bahebeck.

Defender David Luiz is available after being rested for Friday's 3-2 win over Metz while midfielder Lucas Moura has returned to training with the squad.

Maxwell will face the club where he began his career in Europe and the Brazilian told psg.fr: "It's always special to me. I learned so much there.

"My time in Amsterdam helped me to become a man. Now, however, I am a Parisian and I'm doing everything I can to defend the colours of my club."

Defender Stefano Denswil is included in Ajax's 24-man squad in place of Joel Veltman, who is suspended after being sent off against Barcelona last time out.

Third place, and Europa League qualification, is the extend of Ajax's ambitions after just two points from their first four games. They are a point ahead of Cypriot side APOEL.