Blanc unfazed at not being PSG’s first choice

PARIS: New Paris Saint-Germain manager Laurent Blanc yesterday said he was unfazed by not being the first choice to replace Carlo Ancelotti at the French league champions, as the club’s owners said Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva were not for sale.
“Yes, the date (of the appointment) was late for me but it’s not a problem not to be the first on the list,” Blanc told a news conference at the club’s Parc des Princes ground in Paris.
“The most important thing is to be picked at the end of the day and that’s the case,” he added.
Blanc, 47, has been out of a job since leaving his role as France coach after a disappointing Euro 2012 campaign that saw Les Bleus eliminated at the quarter-final stage.
The former defender, who won the World Cup with France in 1998 and European championships in 2000, previously coached Bordeaux, leading them to the Ligue 1 title in 2009.
PSG had been linked to a number of top European managers, including Jose Mourinho, Rafael Benitez and Fabio Capello, before Blanc was appointed earlier this week.
“I’m happy to be here, very proud to be the coach of a club like PSG. I know what’s awaiting us. It’s an exciting but also a difficult challenge,” Blanc told reporters.
“With the staff, we’re going to try — I stress ‘try’ — to meet our goals and entertain.”
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, for his part said he was confident that with Blanc as coach, the club could “continue on the right path toward its aim — another French league title next season.”
“(Sporting director) Leonardo has worked well to get the new coach,” he added, thanking in turn departing coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Blanc’s appointment coincided with an announcement from Real Madrid that Ancelotti would replace Mourinho after he left the Santiago Bernabeu for English club Chelsea.
“(Ancelotti) did good work here in the last 18 months. I’ve got good relations with him. I wish him good luck at Real,” Al-Khelaifi said.
The Qatari also quashed rumors that PSG stars Ibrahimovic and Silva could be on their way out.
“Thiago Silva and ‘Ibra’ are staying,” he said, following reports in Spain and Italy that they could head to Barcelona and Juventus respectively.
Juventus effectively closed the door to any Ibrahimovic move by signing Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez on Thursday.
PSG have spent 250 million euros on players in the last two seasons but have not yet made any move on the transfer market.
This close season, newly promoted Monaco have dug deep into their pockets, notably signing Colombia forward Radamel Falcao for a reported 60 million euros.

Isco first Real signing

Real Madrid have secured the services of highly-rated Spain under-21 play-maker Isco for a fee of some 30 million euros ($ 39 million), their first signing since the arrival of new coach Carlo Ancelotti.
The 21-year-old midfielder, who was also a target for English Premier League club Manchester City, has joined from Malaga on a five-year contract, Real said on their website (www.realmadrid.com) yesterday.
He would have a medical examination and be presented at the Bernabeu stadium next Wednesday, they added.
Real did not divulge financial details but a Malaga spokesman said the fee quoted in local media of some 30 million euros was “more or less accurate.”
Isco, whose full name is Francisco Roman Alarcon, spent several years at Valencia before returning to his native Malaga and has long been considered one of Spain’s most promising prospects.
He helped Malaga to the Champions League quarterfinals last season and caught the eye with a series of scintillating performances at this month’s under-21 European Championship in Israel.
He scored a penalty in Spain’s 4-2 victory over Italy in the final and was voted player of the tournament.
“The ability to beat his marker, imagination and speed are some of the qualities that define this midfielder,” Real said.
Isco had discussed the possibility of joining up with Manuel Pellegrini at City after the Chilean coach quit Malaga at the end of last season to move to Manchester.
However, Ancelotti will have the responsibility of making sure he fulfils his promise and helps Real to win the 10th European title that has eluded them since 2002.
The Italian took the reins at Real on Wednesday, replacing Portuguese Jose Mourinho who returned to former club Chelsea after failing to win major silverware last season.