Paris Saint Germain vs Stade Reims preview - Blanc to save Zlatan for cup final

Posted Saturday, May 23, 2015 by PA

Paris St Germain coach Laurent Blanc's quest for a league and cup double means he will not risk striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for their title celebration at home to Reims.

The Sweden international missed last Saturday's 2-1 win at Montpellier with a calf injury and Blanc has one eye on next weekend's Coupe de France meeting with Auxerre.

"He is not fit. Unless there is a miracle this afternoon Ibra will not be able to play against Reims," he said at a press conference.

"He is much better, but with injuries to the calf we must be very careful.

"We prefer to save him for the final of the Coupe de France."

Despite a third successive Ligue 1 title and the chance to win a ninth Coupe de France, Blanc believes the team have to improve, especially when it comes to the Champions League.

"We do not stop there, we want to continue to grow, to improve, be it the players, the staff, the leaders," he added.

"We'll try to do better next season. This year gave us encouragement to take that small step that will allow us to go further in Europe."

Reims secured their Ligue 1 future a week ago with a 1-0 victory over Rennes and coach Olivier Guegan wants his side to learn from the experience.

"The goal has been reached, the players did the job last weekend," he said.

"We were in a delicate position but we managed to reverse the trend, but it should not overshadow what we have to learn for next season."