Paris Saint-Germain reward Blanc with contract extension through 2016
Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc has been rewarded with a one-year contract extension after guiding the club to a second successive Ligue 1 title.
The former France coach succeeded Carlo Ancelotti at the Parc des Princes last summer and picked up where his predecessor left off by securing the title, along with the Coupe de la Ligue and Trophee des Champions. The 48-year-old had a year to run on his initial two-year contract and is now linked to the club until 2016.
He said: "I am very happy to prolong my contract with Paris Saint-Germain and to commit myself for the long term in the most ambitious project in Europe. We will dream even bigger together."
Club president Nasser Al Khelaifi added: "We are very happy, both with the remarkable path taken this season by our team and with the elegant and effective playing style introduced by Laurent Blanc. I am very proud of my team because it has not been an easy season. It is the obvious and justified thing to do to renew (Blanc's contract) and signify our confidence. We are convinced that under his direction, our team will win lots of trophies in the seasons to come."
The capital club were assured of their latest silverware before kicking a ball on Wednesday evening after nearest title challengers Monaco were held to a 1-1 draw at home by lowly Guingamp. PSG went on to lose 2-1 at home to Rennes, the visitors not only spoiling the title party but also all but mathematically securing their own survival as Foued Kadir and Paul-Georges Ntep cancelled out Ezequiel Lavezzi's early goal.
But Blanc refused to let the defeat take the shine off his team's title triumph.
"The title is ours and that's the main thing," he said on www.psg.fr after the match. We found out just before we walked out for the match. "I don't know if that's a good way to prepare or not. We are very happy tonight, even if we would have preferred to celebrate with a win. I think we will do that here against Montpellier, but it's a reward for 10 months' hard work. Now we really want to beat the record for the most points in a single season (83) so we will try and do that in the next two matches because this team deserves to beat records."
Blanc's side, who have already amassed 83 points, visit Lille on Saturday before rounding off their campaign against 2012 champions Montpellier at the Parc des Princes on the final weekend. The title success capped a fine season for PSG, who had already bolstered the trophy cabinet with victories in the Trophee des Champions and the Coupe de la Ligue.
"I am very happy with this third title this season," striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic said. "Finally, it's done! The season was very long and now we have reached another of our objectives. We have had a superb season and we are all very happy."
France midfielder Yohan Cabaye felt the outcome fully justified his big-money January transfer from Newcastle.
"I signed here in Paris to win titles," he said. "No, we didn't win this evening, but a championship rewards consistency and all the hard work over the whole season. The club has defended its title and we need to keep working hard."
