PSG Coach Warns Cavani After Petulant Display
Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc issued words of warning to Edinson Cavani, after the Uruguay striker reacted petulantly to being subbed off.
Cavani was visibly out of sorts when he was pulled in the 80th minute of PSG’s 4-1 win over Troyes on Saturday; as he walked by the bench he appeared to have words for Blanc.
The former Napoli man had netted PSG’s opener, volleying in a chipped pass from Angel Di Maria, before Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Layvin Kurzawa and Jean-Kevin Augustin all added to PSG’s lead. Thomas Ayasse pulled one back for the visiting side in extra time.
“Cavani wasn’t happy, I can confirm that,” Blanc told reporters afterwards.
“If established players have no motivation, we will play young people. They will be happy to play, but I think the established players that I have are currently serious.”
It was not the first time Cavani has been visibly frustrated after being substituted. Now in his third season at PSG, Cavani still doesn’t truly look to have settled at the club. With Ibrahimovic out of contract at the end of the season and persistent rumors about Cristiano Ronaldo coming to the club, just what sort of future Cavani has at the club remains unclear.
Saturday’s victory, meanwhile, was the first time PSG had played at home at the Parc des Princes since the Paris attacks that killed 130 people earlier this month. As they had done earlier in the week in the Champions League, PSG replaced their usual jersey sponsor with the words “Je Suis Paris.”
Before the match commenced, there were a series of tributes to the victims as well as a giant French tricolor displayed on the pitch.
The win was PSG’s ninth in a row and the three points mean that the capital club will head into the winter break atop the league. PSG will be back in action this week, as Ligue 1 holds an entire round of midweek matches.
Watch Paris Saint-Germain vs. Angers at 1pm ET Tuesday on beINSports.