Laurent Blanc: "Barça's style of play has dominated European football"

Laurent Blanc suggested that Zlatan Ibrahimovic's absence means Paris Saint-Germain will have to change how they play against Barcelona.

"With Ibrahimovic everything is easier," he said in the pre-match press conference on Monday.

"His absence means we are obliged to play more as a team."

The PSG boss, who played for Barcelona in the 1990s, had previously confirmed it was "impossible" for the Swedish striker to be ready for the match in the French capital.

However, Blanc also made it clear that his side will not be set out to sit back -- despite the absence of their star man.

"We are playing at home," he continued.

"I don't want to see 11 players behind the ball. I am going to ask my players that play, to play.

"That is how we will recover the confidence that we have lost."

Focusing on Barcelona, the French coach was full of praise for his former side.

"I have always liked the philosophy of Barça a lot," he admitted.

"They haven't conceded any goals yet [this season], but their rivals have created some chances -- we will have to take advantage of ours."

And on the danger man?

"[Lionel] Messi plays as a No. 9 but he is never there," Blanc added.

"He goes off, looking for the ball. He is capable of scoring, dribbling past three or four, giving assists... We will have to be careful every time he gets the ball."

And he finished: "We are playing against... I will not say our teachers, but a team that has played with that philosophy for 30 or 40 years and look where that has led them.

"Some like it, some don't, but Barça and their style of play have dominated European football for the last 10 years."