Laurent Blanc (pictured) claimed yesterday that his job has been in danger since he joined Paris Saint-Germain as coach, after his team bowed out of the Champions League with a quarter-final defeat to Manchester City.
The Frenchman led PSG to a domestic treble of Ligue 1, French Cup and French League Cup titles last season, but the main objective for the club’s billionaire owners, Qatar Sports Investments, remains to conquer Europe.
The capital city side became the first team to ever exit the Champions League in the quarters for four successive seasons with a 3-2 aggregate loss to City.
After expressing his delight at avoiding ‘the ogres of European football’ in Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the last eight, Blanc is now under pressure after failing to make the most of the supposed favourable draw.
“I have been in danger ever since I signed at PSG,” Blanc told a press conference yesterday.
“You know that a coach is always in the hot seat, the only thing that gives you immunity from that is winning, and the last game we lost, and did not qualify.”
PSG are still well-placed to successfully defend their trio of domestic trophies, having already wrapped up the Ligue 1 title in record time, and with a French League Cup final and a French Cup semi-final to look forward too.
They will look to take out their European frustrations on Caen when they return to league action at the Parc des Princes today.
Influential midfielder Marco Verratti missed Tuesday’s second leg at the Etihad Stadium, and Blanc says that a comeback for the injured Italian is not imminent.
“Marco is following his programme, every day is an extra step forwards for him, but a return against Caen on Saturday is inconceivable for me,” Blanc said.
Verratti has not played for the club since a 4-1 league win over Reims on February 20.