Why Laurent Blanc Deserves One More Year at Paris Saint-Germain

Before the last-16 tie against Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc was facing an uphill struggle to prove he was the man to continue the club’s push toward European glory.

However, the performance that eliminated the Premier League side and set up the clash with Barcelona shows he has what it takes, and Le President should stay in Paris for at least one more year.

The quarter-final matchup against Luis Enrique's Spanish giants is going to be a huge test and could perhaps be a step too far, especially with the players missing for Wednesday night's first leg.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is suspended after his red card against Chelsea, and midfielder Marco Verratti is another huge loss through suspension.

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The man believed to be behind David Luiz's near miraculous recovery from injury is Zenit's rehabilitation specialist @eduphysio.

— Jonathan Johnson (@Jon_LeGossip) April 15, 2015"

David Luiz was supposed to miss the game through injury but has been named in the squad. Thiago Motta will miss the game and possibly the second leg too.

We should not judge Blanc harshly if PSG fall at this hurdle; we should commend him for helping his team make it this far.

Progress is not measured by what round of the Champions League you reach. Chelsea beat PSG at this stage last season. Where is the disgrace in losing to a team who have three forwards combining for 62 league goals this season?

In the Champions League, you can see PSG's progression. Last season, they thought they were in a strong position, beating Chelsea 3-1 in Paris before losing on away goals at Stamford Bridge.

Michel Euler/Associated Press

This time, they were huge underdogs after the 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes, and the odds increased as Chelsea took the lead against Blanc's men. They didn't panic, however, and they kept to their game plan. Perhaps with a touch of luck and good fortune, two late goals saw them knock out Jose Mourinho's side.

That win showed more about Blanc's team than reaching the quarter-finals last season. It is not about how far you go; it's about whom you beat and your team's performances.

Despite not playing their best football in the domestic campaigns, PSG are on course for a domestic quadruple—a quintet if you include the Trophee des Champions—and the credit has to go to Blanc and the way he has managed the team.

It could have fallen apart during the winter break when Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani failed to show in Marrakech, but Blanc stayed strong and disciplined the players, and he seems to have gained some respect in the dressing room.

Without a sporting director, there is often the suggestion that PSG don't have a long-term vision or a leadership structure, but Blanc has silenced most of the critics and has shifted the focus away from himself.

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Performances in the league could be better. PSG need to find the killer instinct to really put away domestic games. That would give them the chance to blood youngsters and rest key players for future Champions League adventures.

That would be the biggest criticism of the former France boss, but as PSG sit top of the league, we have to put things in perspective. 

Blanc will always be under pressure in Paris. There will always be big names linked with taking the Parisian hot seat, but the former Marseille and Montpellier man has shown he can handle the heat in big-game situations.

Regardless of what happens against Barcelona, Blanc has shown that PSG have progressed enough to see him continue his project in the capital.

It is going to be a huge summer in Paris. Big-name players could be on their way out, with equally huge names linked with moves to France, and with what he has shown this season, Blanc is the man who deserves the chance to continue the PSG project for at least another year.