3 Ways Laurent Blanc Can Make PSG Better in 2016

Paris Saint-Germain enjoyed an excellent first half of the season. After the game against SM Caen they finished the year top of Ligue 1, held a 19-point lead over AS Monaco in second and had only conceded nine goals in their 19 league appearances.

As domestic campaigns go, it’s close to perfection. Only dropped points against Stade de Reims, Girondins de Bordeaux and SCO Angers, put black marks on their report card.

The team travelled to Doha during the winter break to prepare for the months ahead, and Laurent Blanc knows there are tough challenges to come, via the PSG official website:

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Obviously we are also looking to prepare for the second half of the season and to try and do better than in the first half, even though we know that won't be easy. We have big ambitions, like you know, not only in Ligue 1 and also in the Champions League. We have four days to prepare, in perfect conditions and I hope we will reach our objectives.

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The Champions League will be the priority for the first half of the new year. With the Ligue 1 title all but sewn up, the focus, although no one will admit it publicly, will turn to the two games against Chelsea in February and March—and there are ways that PSG can improve if they want to progress.

All too often, the team are criticised for taking their foot off the gas when it looks like they are in control of games. That is what caused the 2-2 draw with Bordeaux at the Parc des Princes.

PSG need to put more pressure on the opposition defence when they are not in possession. They are too comfortable just sitting back and waiting for their opponents to come forward and make a mistake. Pressing the ball high up the pitch would help them pick up the ball in more dangerous areas.

Doing this regularly in the league would help them make the step up to the tougher challenges in the Champions League. Rather than trying to go from second gear to fifth gear.

Rotation and Improved Youth Policy

When players know they are not going to drop out of the starting XI, there is no reason for their performances to stay at a high level.

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Edinson Cavani is one of the biggest culprits for this. No matter how well Lucas Moura was playing in Ligue 1, there was little chance that the Brazilian was going to start in the Champions League. It’s then no surprise that the Uruguayan has just one goal over the six group games.

There needs to be at least a threat of being dropped, forcing players to step up their intensity. This could also apply for Adrien Rabiot’s position in the midfield now that Marco Verratti is back to full fitness.

The French youngster needs to know that, if he plays well, he will get the minutes he deserves—rather than Thiago Motta, Blaise Matuidi and Verratti being selected every time.

Shut the Trapp Door

After a recent blunder against Lyon, the PSG fans sarcastically cheered Kevin Trapp when he followed it up with a routine catch. This is not going to help the German goalkeeper’s confidence, and it has helped expose the one weak link in the PSG rearguard.

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Salvatore Sirigu is not going to reclaim his No. 1 jersey this season, and with Alphonse Areola out on loan for the rest of the season, Trapp is Blanc’s only option between the posts.

Blanc needs to show that the former Eintracht Frankfurt ‘keeper has his unwavering support.

PSG fans are already looking for Areola to come in next season, but if the former France coach believes in his current No. 1, he needs to make that clear and help rebuild the confidence shown in the shot-stopper.

That will filter down to him, and his team-mates, giving PSG a strong, confident and capable player to rely on as the last line of defence.