Kombouare asks for more time as PSG fortunes fall

Eurozone

Antoine Kombouare, head coach of Paris Saint Germain (Getty Images)

Paris St-Germain coach Antoine Kombouare has insisted that his expensively-assembled team needs more time to gel after three consecutive defeats. PSG lost Ligue 1games 1-0 to Nancy and 3-0 at Marseilles before Thursday’s 2-0 Europa League defeat to Red Bull Salzburg, which has left the Arab owned team unlikely to qualify for the last 32.

"We're still building and you don't build a team in four months," Kombouare told L'Equipe. "We have to be able to react. I am a fighter and I want to fight. My future? Ask the club's officials."

Gerard Piqué and Cristiano Ronaldo, the former Manchester United players on either side of the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona, are both likely to be available for next Saturday's El Clasico. Piqué, the Barcelona centre-back, escaped further punishment after receiving a one-match ban for a yellow card on Wednesday. He was booked for time-wasting late in Barcelona's 4-0 defeat of Rayo Vallecano. Ronaldo is also likely to play, having returned to training after an ankle injury sustained in last weekend's Madrid derby.

In Italy last night, reigning champions Milan moved to the top of Serie A with a 2-0 win at Genoa. Antonio Nocerino and Zlatan Ibrahimovic with a penalty got Milan's goals, while play at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris was suspended for 10 minutes after police released tear gas outside the stadium to disperse fans.