Laurent Blanc hit back at Samir Nasri’s criticism of Paris St-Germain and French football on Tuesday by claiming English struggles in Europe exposed the Premier League’s own failings.

As a war of words broke out on the eve of the first leg of Manchester City’s Champions League quarter-final in Paris on Wednesday night, the PSG coach also admitted he was relieved to draw Manuel Pellegrini’s side because they were not as threatening as the continent’s “ogres” such as Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

Nasri, City’s France midfielder, had stoked the fires ahead of the battle of the “petrodollar” clubs, whose fortunes have been transformed by the largesse of Abu Dhabi and Qatari billionaires, by suggesting the French champions have it easy in their domestic competition and were “no Barca”.

Defender Eliaquim Mangala also insisted there was no reason for City to be running “scared” of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and company. PSG secured a fourth successive French title last month with nine league matches remaining and lead Monaco, in second, by 25 points.