Paris Saint Germain vs Evian Thonon Gaillard preview

Posted Tuesday, April 22, 2014 by PA

Paris St Germain boss Laurent Blanc has refused to divulge details of the conversations he has had concerning his future with the club hierarchy.

Speculation concerning the former France coach has intensified in recent days, with uncertainty over his current club's commitment to him allied to links with jobs elsewhere, including the Manchester United vacancy.

A Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of Chelsea and a Ligue 1 loss to Lyon sparked suggestions his Parc des Princes stay may be under threat, but club president Nasser al-Khelaifi moved to calm such talk by saying Blanc would stay.

It remains to be seen if that will be followed by a formal announcement of long-term backing for the 48-year-old, whose team won the Coupe de la Ligue on Saturday and are now looking to tie up a successful Ligue 1 title defence.

Blanc, ahead of a home league fixture against Evian on Wednesday, was in no mood to entertain talk about his situation.

"What is said with the directors, I keep to myself," he said. "Don't expect anything about me, about next season.

"Of course, as coach I hear what is being said, but I don't read the papers much. I know that what is important is what the directors are saying. Be patient. We're here to talk about the Evian game."

Blanc has put Coupe de la Ligue celebrations on hold, with the Parisians focused on retaining the Hexagoal trophy that goes to the French league champions.

"We're doing our jobs as professionals, respecting the teams that we're going to play," Blanc said.

"I don't know when we're going to celebrate this win but there is a match tomorrow and we have to prepare for it."

Evian are the visitors to the Parc des Princes, and PSG will be aiming for the victory that would position them 10 points clear of Monaco with four games remaining.

So although Blanc is not planning a trophy parade on Wednesday, he is hoping there is cause for an end-of-season knees-up.

"We've got two key matches against Sochaux and Evian. After those, we'll see," he said.

"Evian are a team we must respect. We must take the points."

Injured Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains absent, with Blanc hoping the man who gives PSG extra bite up front will be back from his hamstring problem before the end of the season.

Evian stand four points clear of the relegation zone but may need another win before the end of the campaign to secure their safety.

They have taken eight points from their last four games though, so head to Paris with confidence.

Coach Pascal Dupraz said on Evian's website: "Our ambition is to stay in Ligue 1 for a fourth consecutive year. We're preparing for two games, since after Paris, the champions elect, we will be at home to St Etienne, who are in a very enviable fourth place.

"No predictions (for the PSG game) are favouring us. What is certain though is that we're not going there to visit the capital or admire the Parc des Princes, a magnificent stadium. As we always do, we'll go there to get a good result, because we need one."