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Thiago Motta criticised by PSG legends for 'sackable offence'

Former Paris Saint-Germain stars have lashed out at Thiago Motta after the Italy international admitted he did not know the club already had a European triumph to its name.

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A PSG side featuring Youri Djorkaeff, Rai and Paul Le Guen defeated Rapid Vienna to win the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1996, the capital club's sole continental success to date.

Motta, 32, will help PSG embark on attempting to replicate that glory in Wednesday's Champions League group-stage opener at Ajax.

However, he caused a significant stir by telling L'Equipe last weekend he had had no idea European silverware could already be found in the Parc des Princes trophy cabinet.

"It's a sackable offence on Thiago Motta's part," former PSG goalkeeper Bernard Lama, who captained the side in the '96 final, said. "When you arrive at a club, the least you can do is inform yourself about its past, what it's won. That proves he's a heathen in football terms."

Midfielder Vincent Guerin added he felt the club's Qatari owners, who took over in 2011, were not interested in what had happened at PSG before they stepped in.

He said: "In the mid-'90s, PSG was known and held in esteem beyond France's borders. No one can deny that. Perhaps also for the club's current hierarchy, the former players and history of the club are not a priority."

Motta, who was also accused of on-pitch baiting that led to Brandao headbutting him after PSG's game with Bastia earlier this season, was defended by his agent, Alessandro Canovi, via his Twitter account.

"Thiago is not 'a heathen', nor 'a provocateur' nor 'a cheat,' but a sincere person, a champion," the Italian wrote. "If Thiago didn't know about the cup, he was wrong, but he's not a heathen."