Why PSG Are Looking to Replace Laurent Blanc This Summer

The initial announcement that Paris Saint-Germain were talking to other candidates regarding taking over from Laurent Blanc this summer, which came somewhat out of the blue, made perfect sense once you had a few minutes to digest it.

After PSG were eliminated from the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League by Manchester City, it was clear that club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi wasn’t happy.

“We are very disappointed with the result. But that’s football and we have to accept it,” Al-Khelaifi told the club’s official website after the game. “It’s the fourth time we reach the quarter-finals and are eliminated. Now we have to take a step back and analyse what has happened.”

All had looked quiet on that front as PSG had gone on to win the Coupe de la Ligue—2-1 over Lille OSC—and the Coupe de France, with a 4-2 victory over Olympique de Marseille confirming their second straight domestic quadruple, but that seems to have done as much harm as it did good.

It highlights the dominance of the club on French shores but displays their shortcomings on the European stage. In the pages of Le Parisien this week (h/t Goal) Al-Khelaifi was asked if Blanc would still be in charge next season, his answer would not have filled the former Bordeaux boss with much optimism.

He said:

"

I will not speak of particular cases. Big changes will happen. A new cycle will start, you'll see. In any case, if we continue like this on all levels we will not get there.

Two hours before the return leg in Manchester [PSG lost 3-2 on aggregate to Manchester City], I knew we were going to lose. I did not feel anything from the players and I said to a member of staff they were not ready to fight.

We lost before playing. Whose fault is it? This must never happen again.

I'm just an observer and I analyse the results and competencies of all: the players, the coach, the management. We need change.

I have supported him for three years. Now we must think about what we will do next season to build a stronger team in Europe.

"

It is interesting that he knew they would fail two hours before the Manchester City game. That would fall in line with Blanc’s bizarre decision to play 3-5-2 at the Etihad Stadium for the second leg.

They may have only drawn 1-1 in Paris, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a clear one-on-one and a penalty to break the game open in the first half. The home side were far from impressive, but you can’t suggest that City were the better side.

With Blaise Matuidi and Marco Verratti missing, Blanc had to make changes, but there were options available to play his normal 4-3-3—yet he chose to go with a formation that wasn’t tested during a game. Even if it was used in training, it was a huge risk.

The defenders seemed to struggle with their positioning, and PSG failed to create any chances of note, outside of a couple of Ibrahimovic free-kicks.

When your whole season is condensed into the knockout stages of the Champions League—failure, not just to advance, but to be eliminated with barely a whimper—it is easy to see why Al-Khelaifi saw it as an unforgivable act.

Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

City were far from impressive in either leg. There was a point in the second game when the Premier League club had gone a full 90 minutes over the two fixtures without a shot on target.

What would have hit home worse for the president would have been watching City limp out of the semi-final against Real Madrid. Never quite out of the tie, Manuel Pellegrini’s side never looked like troubling the eventual winners.

Knowing that a perfectly good chance to at least reach the final of the Champions League was pushed out of reach due to the decisions of his coach would have been a tough pill to swallow.

Al-Khelaifi continued:

"

Honestly, I think we failed this season despite trophies at a national level. We did not meet our European target, so it's a bad season.

I've been here for five years and this is the first time we have had this sense of failure. It's not just the fact of having lost in the quarter-finals of the Champions League that makes me say that, it's how it happened.

I am very disappointed. We were not mentally ready and we are all responsible. This elimination is the worst since I have been in Paris. It is very difficult to accept.

I repeat, this is the first time we have failed and I have to ask myself the right questions: should I chance my leadership? Should I change people? Should I change system? Should I change the players? I will reflect and wholesale changes could happen.

You will see when the time comes. It will not be easy for everyone, but it's time to change. After five years, you must start a new cycle.

We dream big. I have said since my arrival, we want to win the Champions League and I will not give up.

"

After Al-Khelaifi’s frank admittance that the season had ended in failure, it wasn’t long before big names were being touted as Blanc’s replacement.

Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid was first, but Antoine Griezmann told beIN Sports France (h/t ESPN FC) that the Argentinian coach had assured the forward that he was going nowhere this summer.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

With the Simeone rumour quickly debunked, the spotlight quickly moved to Sevilla coach Unai Emery, with AS reporting that the French club had committed to paying his buyout fee of €2 million to see him take over from Blanc.

Not everyone is against the current PSG boss, with former striker Ibrahimovic jumping to the defence of his old coach.

The Sweden international told Le Monde (h/t ESPN FC): 

"

I think that Laurent Blanc has done fantastic work with PSG.He's allowed the team to play very well. I like his philosophy and way of working a lot. His track record is very positive.

I don't think it's a question of what's lacking or not. The time will come when PSG will win the Champions League. It's not like it's enough to click your fingers saying "this year I'm going to win it."

The project only started four years ago and in four years PSG have done some huge, magical things. And in such a short space of time, that's not normal. Usually it takes more time to get results.

"

No matter what you believe and what coach comes in, one thing is clear; Blanc is unlikely to be PSG’s coach when the club plays its first Ligue 1 fixture of the 2016/17 season at SC Bastia.

Al-Khelaifi is reportedly attracted to Emery’s success in the UEFA Europa League—winning three straight titles—hoping that he is the man to bring that European domination to the Parc des Princes.

What the Sevilla man will have to learn quickly is that failure is not an option. It may not be the exact round that you are eliminated in, but it’s the type of performance you put in that sees you knocked out.

PSG went out without a fight against Manchester City, and that went against Blanc. His move to change formation was bold but ultimately foolish, and it looks like his time at the club was sealed that evening in Manchester.

Emery will be expected to continue the domestic success, while also rebuilding the squad, helping PSG compete again Europe’s best and showing Al-Khelaifi definite signs of progression, not just promise and potential.