Leonardo issues PSG warning

A look ahead to the weekend's action in the French Ligue 1.

Last Updated: 23/08/12 at 12:40 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  French Ligue 1. Click here to bet.

Leonardo: PSG have an obligation to win

Leonardo: PSG have an obligation to win

Paris St Germain sporting director Leonardo has sent a blunt warning to his players that if they do not commit to his winning vision for the club he will have no hesitation in showing them where the exit is.

Leonardo has seen his expensively-assembled team get off to a slow start to the Ligue 1 season with two draws in as many fixtures leaving them in the bottom half of the table.

With his side at home on Sunday to Bordeaux - fourth in the table with two wins so far - Leonardo expects the game to be difficult.

But that does not mean he does not expect his players to give a good account of themselves.

"This team must start every game to win. The obligation to win is part of our DNA," Leonardo told L'Equipe.

"We're here to win, not for fun or for pictures. If a PSG player is not aware of that, they will not be here. I'm not here to be loved by the players. I work for the club. "

Midfielder Blaise Matuidi believes the problem facing PSG is other teams raise their performance because they want to beat the capital club more than any other.

Matuidi told reporters: "When playing against Paris, the other teams are hungry.

"We need mentally to be 100%. If it is 80, 90%, we see that we do not win, as was the case during the first two games, against Lorient and Ajaccio.

"Now we need to move on, do not live in the past. We are already thinking about Bordeaux. We will try to win at the weekend against a team in form."

Leonardo will be able to call on Brazilian central defender Thiago Silva against Bordeaux for the first time since his move from AC Milan.

Silva is set for his debut after missing the opening two fixtures of PSG's campaign since his move from Italy.

Marseille, like Bordeaux, have a 100% record this season and will look to continue that against Montpellier on Sunday as the reigning champions have only a single point to their name this season following a slow start to their title defence.

In the third of Sunday's games St Etienne take on Brest.

The weekend's fixtures begin with early pacesetters Lyon visiting struggling side Evian on Friday.

Wins over Rennes and Troyes have put Lyon top of the standings whereas Evian have been beaten by Brest and Bordeaux and will be looking for their first points of the season.

Fifth-placed Lorient should have forward Jeremie Aliadiere available after he returned to training following injury as they look to continue their good start to the season on Saturday.

Bottom side Troyes provide the opposition and with no wins to their name the game will provide a good chance for Lorient to put pressure on the teams above them.

In the other fixtures on Saturday Nancy play Toulouse, Nice face Lille, Reims take on Sochaux, Bastia visit Rennes and Valenciennes are at home to Le Havre.

Bet with SkyBet  French Ligue 1. Click here to bet.

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