Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti has said that defensive midfielder Blaise Matuidi is "indispensable" for his team.

The 25-year-old has featured in 28 Ligue 1 matches and eight Champions League fixtures for PSG so far this season.

"I'm a little surprised," Ancelotti told L'Equipe. "But I think he's surprised everyone. In a year-and-a-half, he's improved his confidence and his consistency.

"Today, he's as indispensable to PSG as [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic or Thiago Silva. He's not necessarily got great talent technically, but he has talent in terms of the heart which he puts into the game.

"It's difficult for him to improve as he's already very, very good. In Europe, he's a player at a very, very high level, very aggressive in getting the ball back. In comparison to Sergio Busquets, for example, he's capable of putting more intensity into his game."

PSG are currently five points clear at the top of Ligue 1.