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Tuchel admits PSG not at best after being held to draw by Strasbourg

Edinson Cavani rescued a point for his side with a second half penalty.

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Paris St Germain boss Thomas Tuchel admitted his side were not at their best after being held 1-1 at Ligue 1 rivals Strasbourg.

Edinson Cavani rescued a point for PSG with a second half penalty after Kenny Lala’s spot kick before the break had given Strasbourg a surprise lead.

PSG extended their unbeaten league start to 16 games this season, but they have been held in back-to-back Ligue 1 games since beating Liverpool in the Champions League.

“I cannot expect from my players the same state of mind as against Liverpool,” Tuchel said in his post-match interview.

“We showed a good spirit in Bordeaux (on Sunday) and today we attacked and defended together.”

PSG had spurned a host of chances before Strasbourg took the lead through Lala’s 40th minute penalty.

Defender Thilo Kehrer was adjudged to have handled and after the incident was referred to the video assistant referee, Lala converted into the bottom corner.

PSG went in search of the equaliser in the second half, but met with stubborn resistance before Cavani hauled the visitors level with his 10th league goal of the season after Lala’s foul on Kylian Mbappe.

“Strasbourg knows how to defend en bloc by playing with a lot of quality and with the help of the fans,” Tuchel added.

“We knew Strasbourg would defend very low. They play very hard at home with a great atmosphere in the stadium and our decision-making was too slow.”

PSG now have five days to prepare for their next match, a Champions League tie against Red Star in Belgrade on Tuesday.

Strasbourg boss Thierry Laurey said he was proud of his players, but was already looking forward to this weekend’s home league game against Caen.

“I congratulate my boys, I’m very proud of them,” Laurey said. “We need to continue like this, we have a very important match against Caen on Sunday.

“On commitment, rigour, investment – I have nothing to reproach my players. I’m very happy to have taken a point. PSG came with a team that had largely the potential to beat us.”

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