Ancelotti happy with PSG character

5 December 2012 03:03

Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti was satisfied with the 2-1 victory over Porto 2-1 on Tuesday.

The win qualified PSG for the next round of the Champions League as Group A winners.

The French club have struggled recently, with one win in five in Ligue 1, but they put those results firmly behind them when Thiago Silva's powerful header put them in front at the Parc des Princes.

Porto's Jackson Martinez restored parity, however, Ezequiel Lavezzi's second-half strike was ultimately enough to win the match for the French capital club after a mistake from Brazilian goalkeeper Helton.

"It was a good match with a good reaction from the team, which showed its character and courage," Ancelotti told PSG's official website.

"Tonight (Tuesday), against a good team in Porto, there was everything that I want to see from my players. The pride of this team, the quality, it's always difficult to build a team so quickly. I am confident."

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi also shared his thoughts on his club's achievement.

"This is a very important victory," said the 39-year-old.

"I am very happy with the game, but not just because we won.

"I'm in a happy state of mind. I loved the reaction of the team tonight. We're still here, have qualified for (our) eighth final, with first place in the group key. It is very important to us."

Midfielder Javier Pastore also stressed the importance of entering the knockout phase on the back of a first place finish.

"It is very important because we finished top of the group, and it was something we wanted, and we did it by playing great football, so we are very happy," the Argentine said.

"We have to be quite satisfied, because we played well today, and we qualified playing good football."