Thiago Motta backs Hatem Ben Arfa to return to Paris Saint-Germain squad

Paris Saint Germain's Thiago Motta celebrates after scoring a goal during the Champions League football match Olympiakos vs Paris Saint-Germain at the Karaiskaki stadium in Athens on September 17, 2013
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Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta backs teammate Hatem Ben Arfa to return to the first-team squad.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta has called on Hatem Ben Arfa to continue to work hard in order to regain his place in the first-team squad.

Ben Arfa has made five appearances for the Ligue 1 champions since signing from Nice in the summer, but he has been left out of Unai Emery's last three squads after falling out of favour with the club's new boss.

The 34-year-old told reporters: "We all want him to be the Hatem we saw last season, as he did very well with Nice. There is a team and he is part of that team. We will support Hatem until the end.

"It is not easy for the coach to make his decisions. Hatem, the advice I can give him, is to continue to work hard. He is a great player and he showed that last season. He will get more opportunities."

Last term, Ben Arfa netted 17 times in 34 appearances during his one and only season in Nice.

Unai Emery during the Europa League final between Liverpool and Sevilla on May 18, 2016
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Nice8620145920
2AS MonacoMonaco86112291319
3Paris Saint-GermainPSG85121761116
4Toulouse8422116514
5Lyon8413159613
6Bordeaux84131110113
7Rennes8413910-113
8Metz8413915-613
9Saint-EtienneSt Etienne8332108212
10GuingampGuingamp832398111
11Bastia831466010
12Angers831489-110
13Caen8314714-710
14Marseille8233101009
15Dijon82241113-28
16NantesNantes822448-48
17Montpellier HSCMontpellier8143915-67
18Lille8215814-67
19Lorient8206513-86
20Nancy8125310-75