Paris Saint-Germain will look to start making amends for last season s underwhelming efforts by seeking revenge against Lille in the Trophee des Champions, according to star forward Mauro Icardi.
Mauricio Pochettino s men finished as runners-up in Ligue 1 to Lille, falling short domestically after their Champions League semi-final exit against Manchester City.
However, Icardi is confident PSG will hit the ground running in Pochettino s first full season in charge, and they will look to start strong against Lille in Sunday s Trophee des Champions clash.
We will be out for revenge, Icardi said to the club s media on Thursday. If we start the season by winning a title, we can start the league the following week in the best possible way.
It s true that we didn t have a good start to the league last year, with the Champions League final, the early return to the competition and the lack of preparation. It was a bit difficult. We lost points from the start and we paid the price afterwards.
Icardi was PSG s fitth-most clinical player last Ligue 1 campaign, netting 17.95 per cent of the chances that came his way – Kylian Mbappe led the charts as he converted just over one of every four attempts.
In total, Icardi only managed seven goals in 20 French top-flight games, largely due to a stop-start season that was hampered by injuries at frequent intervals throughout.
The 28-year-old does have previous experience of success in the Trophee des Champions, though, after grabbing the opener in his man-of-the-match performance against Marseille in January.
It s true that it s a good memory, Icardi added. I scored a goal and I was voted best player of the match. But the most important thing is that we won the title.
When you are a striker, there is nothing better than helping the team by scoring goals. It s the best feeling, especially when it leads to a trophy.
My goal now is to win more titles with Paris Saint-Germain. And score even more goals.
A look back at the preseason clash before the
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Having enjoyed a productive transfer window which has seen Achraf Hakimi, Sergio Ramos and Gianluigi Donnarumma all move to Paris, Pochettino is assembling a side capable of recapturing their Ligue 1 title and challenging in Europe once more.
It s a final and there s a trophy to go and win so we have to give our best to win it and start the season well, Icardi continued.
We have a chance to start with an important final and I m not thinking about anything else but winning.
