Paris Saint-Germain has struggled to start the season and Laurent Blanc has received criticism for how he has used Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Ibrahimović has failed to score in three straight matches as works back from injury.

"He's a major player," Blanc told a news conference. "You don't take off that kind of player. He's an extraordinary competitor."

Blanc took Ibrahimović off the pitch early in a match earlier this season that PSG was winning by several goals.

"I do sometimes take him off, because he's going to be 33," he said. "I allow myself to substitute him, because I tell myself the season is long. I take him off when the match is won to protect him. You may remember that his injury last season was a problem for us."