Draxler admits PSG 'egos' can affect the team as he calls for Champions League improvement

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Julian Draxler says the club must do better in Europe next season while admitting that some of the ‘egos’ in the squad make it difficult for the team.

PSG have dominated French football since their takeover by Qatar Sports Investments in 2011, winning 21 domestic honours since including six Ligue 1 titles.

However, they have consistently struggled to match that success on the European stage, failing to get past the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Last season, Thomas Tuchel’s side held a 2-0 lead after the first leg of their last-eight clash with Manchester United but lost 3-1 in the return game at the Parc des Princes to crash out on away goals.

One of the criticisms levelled at the club is that they have assembled a team packed full of talented individuals, such as Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe, but that does not always result in a coherent team.

The current situation regarding world-record signing Neymar, who has told the club he wants to leave and has often seen his attitude questioned, is held up as an example of this.

Draxler concedes that having so many egos in the dressing room does have its problems but insists he sees their presence as a positive.

"All of them are exceptional players, it is hard to find in the world players of this level," Draxler told AFP.

"But of course they have their own minds, their own heads, they live football, they want to score every game, so they have an ego.

"So sometimes it's not easy for the whole team, but if you are lucky enough to play alongside these players, it's just a pleasure every day."

Draxler has also been reflecting on his own time in the French capital since joining from Wolfsburg in January 2017 for a reported €36 million (£33m/$40m).

The Germany international is pleased with the success Tuchel's side has achieved in the French game, but believes progressing further in Europe has to be the aim this season.

"It's two-and-a-half years now since I arrived and I won a lot of (domestic) titles so I am happy about that," he added.

"I became a better player than I was before, so that's positive, but what is negative is what we achieved in the Champions League.

"We did not go far in the Champions League and that was one of the goals when I signed."

"It hurts a lot, it hurts still that we did not go through (against Manchester United).”