PSG ran riot over Lorient, crushing their opponents 5-0, and getting back to winning ways in Ligue 1.

Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery was pleased with his team’s 5-0 thrashing of FC Lorient to close 2016 on a high note after a few disappointing weeks.

The win was the French champions’ first in four Ligue 1 fixtures and moved the capital club to within five points of OGC Nice at Le Championnat’s summit.

Speaking after the final whistle, the Spaniard called the result “an important victory” and proof “the team is strong.”

“We wanted to finish the year well in front of our fans,” Emery added. “We are solid at home and we were at one with the supporters. We played well.

“The first half of the season is over, we are happy. Now, we have to rest and work well again to reduce the deficit to Nice and Monaco and achieve our goal.”

Lucas Moura was in fine form at Parc des Princes, scoring one and assisting captain Thiago Silva’s headed goal.

The Brazilian admitted he and his teammates “needed to win to go on holiday in a calm frame of mind.”

“We are very happy, we needed this victory,” Lucas added. “We have had a difficult time and it was a good victory.

“My goal? I am happy to be able to help the team. We are going to put our feet up now and we will come back even stronger.”

Edinson Cavani scored his 18th goal of the Ligue 1 season from the penalty spot in the second half and was delighted PSG “showed the strength of our team” by “playing as a team.”

“It is the perfect evening as we won with style,” said the Uruguay international. “It does everyone good. We deserved to finish the year like that. Now we are going to rest and spend some time with our families to come back stronger and have a great second half of the season.”

Skipper Silva got himself on the scoresheet with a first half header but was more interested in “the reaction of the team after some difficult moments.”

“We have shown we are strong mentally,” the Brazilian said. “We have shown that we can turn things round through working. We have to stay united, solid and we will achieve our goals.”

Emery preferred Kevin Trapp to Alphonse Areola in goal and the German kept a clean sheet, although he did not have much to do. Les Parisiens‘ No. 1 felt “this evening was the best answer we could give” to recent criticism.

“To win 5-0 at home is a strong signal,” Trapp stated. “We really deserved the win, we finish the year in style. It is tight in the table. We will have to battle to the end but the aim has not changed — we want to be champions.”

Jonathan Johnson covers PSG and the French national team for ESPN FC. Twitter: @Jon_LeGossip.


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