Angel Di Maria opened his account for Paris St Germain as they began their Champions League Group A campaign with a 2-0 victory over Malmo.The former Manchester United winger's last club goal came at Huish Park in an FA Cup tie against Yeovil on January 4 but he ended that eight-month wait to find the net just four minutes into this game in the French capital.Edinson Cavani then headed in his fifth goal in his past three games to give the French giants a winning start in a group that also contains 10-times European champions Real Madrid.PSG wasted little time in trying to establish their dominance and their first attack produced a goal for their marquee summer signing from Old Trafford as Malmo's high line was punished.Marco Verratti stabbed the ball on to the right flank where Di Maria raced on to it, moved into the box and lifted a delicious shot into the top corner of Johan Wiland's goal.Zlatan Ibrahimovic, playing against his hometown club and the team where his career began, nearly added a second in the 20th minute in a move where Di Maria featured heavily.The Argentinian's back-post cross picked out the Sweden international, who took the ball down with his chest but was unable to prod it beyond international colleague Wiland as he advanced.Nikola Djurdjic went close to levelling matters prior to the break after nudging Gregory van der Wiel off the ball and firing across Kevin Trapp's goal.Laurent Blanc's home side were struggling to find a second goal but it came eventually on the hour mark courtesy of Cavani.Ibrahimovic was involved in the attack down the left which created the chance, shifting the ball to Maxwell before applying a trademark back-heeled flick from the full-back's cross to guide the ball on to Cavani, whose downward header beat Wiland.
Showing posts with label Angel Di Maria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Angel Di Maria. Show all posts
Angel Di Maria relishing European return with PSG
Angel Di Maria is excited about making a return to the Champions League with Paris St Germain after missing out last season with Manchester United.
The Argentina midfielder joined PSG this summer in a 63 million euro (£44.3million) transfer from the Barclays Premier League giants.
He had only moved to the Red Devils a year earlier, shortly after lifting the Champions League trophy with Real Madrid.
Di Maria, who started for the first time for PSG in Friday's Ligue 1 clash with Bordeaux, a game that ended in a 2-2 draw, is expected to be included in the line-up for his side's Champions League Group A opener against Malmo at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.
"It was tough for me last season as I didn't play much and it was difficult watching the Champions League on TV after I had won it the season before with Madrid," he said in an interview with Le Parisien.
"It's a magnificent competition and on Tuesday I will feel the same emotions I've had ever since I played my first [Champions League] match for Benfica."
The 27-year-old also says he is happy in France after signing a four-year contract with the defending Ligue 1 champions.
Asked about his brief spell in England, Di Maria said: "Honestly, we were not happy. At the beginning, we were a little happy but then things got complicated.
"Life in England was difficult and it isn't easy for a South American. Some people adapt, but for others it is harder."
Di Maria also admits he had a difficult relationship with United's Dutch coach Louis van Gaal, while his family became unsettled when their house in Prestbury, Cheshire, was burgled in February.
"I didn't get on very well with the coach," he said. "So I believe the decision to join Paris was the best solution.
"After the break-in it wasn't reasonable to stay. My family wasn't happy, my daughter was suffering, so it was important to leave.
"At the end of the season when I left to play in the Copa America I made the decision [to leave], and I saw there was the possibility to join PSG.
"I could have joined them a year earlier before I moved to Manchester but it didn't happen. But I think my destiny was to go to Paris.
"From what I've seen so far, our life here in France is more like the life we led in Spain or Portugal. And at the moment, we are 100 per cent satisfied."
Di Maria has been dazzled by the talent PSG has, especially that of star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
"I have been fortunate enough to play with (Argentina's) Leo (Messi), with (Real Madrid's) Cristiano (Ronaldo) and (United's Wayne) Rooney, and now Ibra," he said.
"I'm really impressed by his technical quality and his movement. He is on the same level as Leo and Cristiano."
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