Football
Jonathan Johnson, PSG correspondent 6y

Paris Saint-Germain 'concentrated' in second half to earn finals spot - Silva

Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva felt that his team are deservedly into the Coupe de France final after beating Caen 3-1 away in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Kylian Mbappe scored two, while Christopher Nkunku got the other, as Unai Emery's men ran out winners at Stade Michel d'Ornano.

Speaking with France TV postmatch, Silva, 34, admitted that it was not easy at times, notably after Ismael Diomande equalised at the end of the first half, but he was relieved that he and his teammates got the job done.

"There were moments in the match that were not so easy," said Silva. "We conceded right at the end of the first half and it was just as well that the referee blew for half-time then, because it allows you to go back to the dressing room and think.

"We were more concentrated for the second half and we earned this result. We are happy. We have reached the final at Stade de France and it is always wonderful to play there. We will prepare for this final."

Emery was happy with the result and is looking forward to clashing with semi-professional side Les Herbiers in the final at Stade de France.

"It is a celebration," he said. "It is a final and if they are there, then they have earned that right.

"The teams that have been eliminated along the way would have liked to have reached this final."

Thomas Meunier started at right back and played the full 90 minutes, witnessing Edinson Cavani have a goal ruled out through video assisted refereeing (VAR) and Mbappe granted the second of his pair through the same tool.

"Me, I am 1,000 percent for video," said the Belgium international. "It is necessary. Each time I have watched a match featuring video, in France or elsewhere, the result has always been correct and that is really important to me."

Meunier disputed the idea that this season has been a failure for PSG because of their second consecutive Champions League round-of-16 exit.

"This season has been more than satisfactory," he added. "We are en route for a domestic clean sweep. Monaco are almost 20 points behind us in second and we just beat them 7-1 in a beautiful title-clincher.

"Apart from the Champions League, PSG are doing what we are expected to do."

Meunier is not in a charitable mood ahead of the clash with Les Herbiers and wants the third-tier side's fairytale run ended as early as possible next month.

"At Stade de France, with a minimum of application, the game should be over after 20 minutes." he said. "I will not underestimate Les Herbiers, I respect them from the bottom of my heart, but there are two divisions between us.

"We do not have the right to a false start or to have doubts for even a second."

Speaking with Eurosport after the final whistle, midfielder Adrien Rabiot revealed that he feels as if only PSG's failures get highlighted, but never the successes.

"I think we make too much of the negatives," he said. "If we did not reach all of these finals and win all of these titles, these things would not be said.

"It is a bit annoying for us, but we will continue on our path and try to ignore it. Among our objectives at the start of the season was a domestic clean sweep and doing that is not simple.

"We know that things will come as far as the Champions League is concerned, but domestically, we need to continue like this and keep proving ourselves."

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