It’s hard not to feel a degree of sympathy for Laurent Blanc with his exit from Paris Saint-Germain appearing imminent.
Of course, he will be richly compensated for the final two years of his contract on top of what has been a sizeable pay packet over the three seasons he has been in charge at the Parc des Princes. But from a purely football sense, and for all the financial incentives that is what retains ultimate longevity, he must carry a sense of regret and maybe even a realisation that his last chance for a shot at the Champions League could have passed.
At 50, he still has plenty of years left in coaching but after the experiences of PSG, the genuine high-powered, extreme-pressured jobs at Europe’s new cabal of elite clubs may be beyond him.
That all said, and who knows how the game can change, Blanc knew exactly what he was getting into when he took the post in 2013.
Eight major domestic trophies in three seasons – including two trebles – is all well and good but it’s the Champions League where the ambitions and targets of the Qatar Investment Authority truly lie.
They haven’t invested more than Dh2.29bn in transfer fees plus generate world sport’s largest wage bill – paying each of their first-team squad on average Dh33.4m a year – to win Ligue 1 by a record points margin or defeat Auxerre in the final of the Coupe de France.
These are all enjoyable starters and side plates, but the main dish is in conquering Europe and under Blanc, PSG have continued to fall short. Never mind their poor performance in the second-leg en route to a meek quarter-final exit to Manchester City, the defeat was especially embarrassing because of Abu Dhabi’s ownership of the Premier League club. It was a global contest for attention and Blanc was unable to motivate his side past what proved an average City team.
PSG have become the first true Champions League club. Domestic matters are secondary; nothing more than a means to hone tactics, maintain form and fitness plus gain access to Europe’s top table.
As sad as it sounds, that has become the reality. They may get caught out from time to time but PSG, as they will more than likely do next season, can win Ligue 1 playing barely at 75 per cent of their capabilities. The issue within that, though, is that it has proved more of a hindrance to them in the Champions League than QIA perhaps first envisaged. It’s all well and good blasting nine goals past Troyes, but when you have to work your way through some of the continent’s best defensive units, it offers scant preparation.
So PSG now turn to the next-best option that’s available to them to try and end their drought beyond the borders of France.
Interesting manager news: Paris Saint-Germain about to pay Unai Emery's €2million release clause and hire him as Laurent Blanc's replacement
— Ed Malyon (@eaamalyon) June 7, 2016
With approaches for Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Diego Simeone fruitless, Carlo Ancelotti previously dispensed with, Jupp Heynckes and Sir Alex Ferguson retired, Frank Rijkaard and Louis van Gaal out of fashion and Zinedine Zidane, Luis Enrique, Jurgen Klopp and Antonio Conte firmly secure in jobs, there are few obvious options left from the Champions League most successful managers of the last 10 years.
Which is why Unai Emery comes into view given his ability to win in Europe; namely three Europa Leagues in succession.
That’s certainly not the trophy QIA want cluttering the cabinet at the Parc des Princes and the Spaniard will now be required to make a significant step up. His reputation has been gained from drawing the maximum from limited resources at clubs where there is a constant turnover of players. Neither of those situations apply at PSG. It will surely seem like paradise.
But he won’t be able to enjoy his luxurious surroundings for too long, patience in Paris is not what it was. Champions League success at PSG is now not just an expectation, it’s an obligation.
