PSG boss Unai Emery: Toulouse win good for confidence ahead of Real Madrid tie

Posted Sunday, February 11, 2018 by PA

Unai Emery believes Paris St Germain’s 1-0 win at Toulouse was ideal preparation for next week’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

Emery’s side racked up their 14th win in their last 15 games in all competitions to restore their 15-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 thanks to Neymar’s solitary second-half strike.

The capital club dominated the match, hitting the woodwork three times, and Emery is looking forward to Wednesday’s last-16 knockout tie against European champions Real full of confidence.

“I’m very happy and I think the team showed a very good attitude. It’s good for our confidence,” the PSG coach told his club’s website.

“We won 1-0, but we controlled the game. We had chances to score more goals, but the opposition goalkeeper played really well and we hit the woodwork three times.

“But it’s good preparations, for the rhythm and the confidence. We played well and we’re going to be able to prepare for Real well.”

Toulouse goalkeeper Alban Lafont did most to keep PSG at bay with a string of fine saves before Angel Di Maria set up Neymar to lash home a 68th-minute winner.

The Brazilian then hit a post and struck the crossbar later in the second period, after Di Maria had also hit the bar with an earlier corner.

PSG last faced Real in the Champions League group stages in the 2015/16 season, drawing 0-0 in Paris and losing 1-0 at the Bernabeu.

Midfielder Marco Verratti claimed PSG were in good shape for the first leg in Madrid after losing just twice in their domestic league this term.

“We’re happy, because everything is going well in the league,” he told Canal Plus. “We have had a very good first part of the season.

“Real? I think we’re ready. It’s an important match. We don’t have the right not to be ready. We have worked a lot for that.”

Toulouse coach Mickael Debeve was pleased with his side’s display and was full of praise for goalkeeper Lafont.

“We played the game the way we wanted to, but unfortunately that goal meant no success,” Debeve told his club’s website.

“We knew we should not let Paris put their game on the line. When we play a very big team, we know that our goalkeeper will be committed. This was the case and Alban was very good.

“What impressed me (about PSG) was their serenity and their ability to be patient.”