PSG goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez has played down suggestions of any unhealthy competition between him and Salvatore Sirigu.
PSG custodian determined to get nod ahead of Italian
Paris St Germain goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez has played down suggestion of any unhealthy competition between him and Salvatore Sirigu for a regular first-team spot.
Douchez was initially slated to be the first-choice between the posts for the French giants but the arrival of Sirigu from Palermo in the summer following the club's takeover by the Qatar Investment Authority and the appointment of Leonardo as the sporting director has made his place less secure.
Moreover, the 31-year-old suffered an injury in July and lost his place to Sirigu at the start of the season. Although he played for PSG against Salzburg in their 3-1 home victory in the Europa League on Thursday, Douchez admits that he knows that he has to work hard to regain his spot on a regular basis.
"I expected to play in that match (against Salzburg) since I have recovered from my injury," he told
L'Equipe. "I played with a lot of happiness.
"People talk a lot about it (competition for goalkeeping spot). I am just working to be in the starting XI, it is my only objective. I am preparing for that everyday.
"The most difficult was to get injured at a very bad moment and having to watch matches from the stands. But I knew another goalkeeper would come.
"This week I had a talk with the coach (Antoine Kombouare) but I won't tell everything (to the public). There is competition. But if it goes smoothly for me, then I would get more first team opportunities."
PSG are currently fourth in Ligue 1 with 10 points from five matches and are away at Evian on Sunday.
Meanwhile, PSG have confirmed that Brazilian defender Ceara has signed a new one-year deal, extending his stay with the capital club until the end of the 2013 season.
The 31-year-old Ceara, who has been standing in as captain in the absence of the injured Mamadou Sakho, has made over 100 league appearances for PSG since joining from Internacional in 2007.
