Football: Motta back but Silva rested for PSG
Blanc revealed that he would make changes to his side following Wednesday's 2-0 win against Monaco
PARIS (AFP) - Italian international midfielder Thiago Motta is available again after injury for Paris Saint-Germain s Ligue 1 encounter with Lens on Saturday but skipper Thiago Silva will not feature.
Coach Laurent Blanc revealed on Friday that he would make changes to his side following Wednesday s 2-0 win against Monaco in the quarter-finals of the French Cup.
And both the return of Motta and the decision to rest Brazil defender Silva comes with one eye on next midweek s Champions League last-16, second leg against Chelsea in London.
"We bring back Thiago Motta who is over his calf injury. He hasn t played for three weeks, so we will see how he gets on. He is a very important player for our philosophy," said Blanc.
"He took a blow to the calf against Lyon (on February 8) which didn t prevent him from playing against Nantes (three days later), and it was against Nantes that he got injured."
Motta therefore missed the 1-1 first-leg draw with Chelsea at the Parc des Princes.
Of his decision to rest Silva, Blanc added: "He has played a lot. He has started the last eight or nine matches and been incredible. But maybe some others will get a rest too."
Blanc also indicated that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return to the line-up after missing the last two matches due to suspension.
"He is ready. We have had him working while he was out suspended and he has had a good break, which he needed.
"Now he needs to play, and the match against Lens is a good thing for him as it will give him a taste of competition before Chelsea."
PSG can go provisionally top of the Ligue 1 table by beating struggling Lens before Lyon -- who are currently one point clear -- go to Montpellier on Sunday.
