MONACO -- Paris Saint-Germain may well be nine points clear at the top of Ligue 1 after a 2-1 win away at Monaco on Sunday but coach Unai Emery admitted that his team could have done better going forward.
Edinson Cavani and Neymar (penalty) goals in either half earned all three points, despite Joao Moutinho's late deflected free-kick effort.
However, Kylian Mbappe missed a series of good chances, while Julian Draxler and Cavani were also wasteful.
"We are happy with all three points and to have widened the gap from our rivals in the league table," Emery said postmatch at Stade Louis II. "The teams behind us are strong but we have confidence in what we are capable of.
"The most important thing is to show the right attitude on the pitch and we are satisfied with our 90 minutes in Monaco.
"If there is one thing we could have improved, it would have been our finishing. However, the team is doing well and it is very satisfying to see that we can maintain our level of performance."
Captain Thiago Silva was solid in central defence alongside Marquinhos and was delighted by the show of strength he and his teammates produced in the principality.
"We are going through a very good period," the Brazil international admitted. "It was a great match. We could have scored more in the end but what counts is the result and the win.
"Monaco are a solid team and we knew that but we showed that we are very strong."
Marquinhos echoed his skipper and defensive partner's comments but was ultimately relieved to have widened the gap between themselves and Monaco.
"We had the opportunity to put a bit more distance between us and Monaco," said the Brazilian. "That was our mission and we succeeded.
"We know the quality of our attackers and we know that if we keep it tight at the back, they will create opportunities and score.
"They created a lot of chances and we remained focused in defence. We wanted to take all three points and we did just that."
Speaking with Canal+, Marco Verratti conceded that Monaco's late push had he and his Parisien teammates under pressure but was happy to see out the win despite the wasteful finishing.
"I think that life got a bit complicated at the end of the match," the Italy international said. "Monaco were pushing a bit at the end.
"We created a lot but were unable to score. It is good making those chances but they also need to be taken.
"We suffered a little at the end. Monaco are a great team and we are happy to win here -- it is never straightforward.
"This result gives us confidence -- we need to keep going like this."
Next up for PSG are ESTAC Troyes at home in Ligue 1 before a trip to face Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace, also in Le Championnat, and then Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.