Paris Saint Germain vs Chelsea FC - Laurent Blanc angered by Serge Aurier's comments - 7M sport

Paris Saint Germain vs Chelsea FC - Laurent Blanc angered by Serge Aurier's comments



Posted Tuesday, February 16, 2016 by PA

Laurent Blanc chastised suspended Serge Aurier for punishing Paris St Germain with the disparaging remarks he made about his head coach and team-mates ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Chelsea.

The right-back has apologised after a live question-and-answer session on Periscope came to light in which he insulted Blanc and several PSG players.

Aurier was on Sunday suspended for the last-16 first leg at Parc des Princes and faces further disciplinary action.

PSG told the media Blanc would answer only one question on Aurier at Monday's pre-match media conference, but the former France boss returned to the subject time and again.

"How did I react? Very badly," Blanc said.

"This is a democracy, we are free to think what we think, we can have our own opinions. (But) that guy, that boy... two years ago I committed myself to make him come to Paris and I think what I saw yesterday that's all the thank you I got. I think that's pitiful.

"I won't say more, because we're here to talk about the Chelsea game."

Blanc denied the outburst had impacted preparations for another meeting with Chelsea with the clubs being drawn together for a third successive season.

"We would like to have prepared with a little bit more calm, but it's a player that gets out by himself," Blanc added.

"Of course we would prefer to avoid that but the most important thing is tomorrow's Champions League game.

"One player won't play, but for the rest the preparation is the same as usual."

Aurier's place at right-back will be taken by Dutchman Gregory van der Wiel or Brazilian Marquinhos, reportedly a Chelsea target.

PSG were beaten by Chelsea at the quarter-final stage in 2014 on away goals, but won by the same method 12 months ago.

With a 24-point lead at the top of Ligue 1, Blanc knows the success of his club's season will be determined by their progress in Europe.

"We'll be playing at a level we're not used to seeing in our national league," Blanc added.

"Now from a football point of view, people think PSG is able to win the Champions League. That's very good. It means we're on a good path."

Chelsea captain John Terry conceded defeat in his bid to play in the game.

The 35-year-old went off towards the end of the first half of Saturday's 5-1 Premier League win over Newcastle with a hamstring problem and underwent a scan on Sunday.

Terry took part in Chelsea's open training session on Monday afternoon, but later did not travel with the squad to Paris for the last-16 first leg tie.

"It was not a decision made by me, because he was having too much trouble to travel, even to try (to play) tomorrow," Hiddink said at Parc des Princes on Monday.

"We had a test this morning. It didn't out work well, so the decision was made to leave him at home. He was himself also convinced he couldn't be of worth to the team at the moment."

Terry's absence means Chelsea are without their first-choice centre-back pairing for the PSG clash, with Kurt Zouma already out for the season following knee surgery.

Branislav Ivanovic moved to centre back against the Magpies and is likely to continue there alongside Gary Cahill, with Baba Rahman coming in at left-back and Cesar Azpilicueta switching to the right flank.

United States defender Matt Miazga and 18-year-old academy defender Jake Clarke-Salter have also travelled with the team and could feature, if required, off the substitutes' bench.

Hiddink insisted Chelsea have prepared for the absence of key personnel and Ivanovic switching in-field from right-back was not unfamiliar.

The Dutchman added: "It was not a surprise to the players that we had to make some changes.

"Of course not having John is a bit of a setback. He's a leader.

"But I'm not the type of coach or manager who starts moaning and moaning.

"We go on and the players who will replace him, I have huge confidence in them."

Oscar (calf) is fit, but midfielder Nemanja Matic is suspended.

Hiddink, who is unbeaten in 11 games of his second spell as Chelsea caretaker boss, came close to reaching the Champions League final in 2009 with the Blues, only for Barcelona to advance in controversial fashion through Andres Iniesta's away goal.

Hiddink, who replaced the sacked Jose Mourinho in December, added: "I don't feel unfinished business. I don't go back. It's history. We have to now go on."



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