PSG pursuit of Arsenal boss shows their short-sighted desperation
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Paris Saint-Germain want to move in bigger circles. Not content with their status as the dominant side in Ligue 1, having won that title for three straight seasons, their Qatari owners pang for some European glory too.
Reams of cash have been spent on the squad to try and propel the Parc des Princes side to Champions League success, but so far all it has managed is a trio of quarter-final exits.
As a result, rumours of dugout upheaval are constant, as its executives hunt the manager they believe will end their yearning. It’s a similar situation to both Real Madrid and Chelsea before they finally got their hands on the big-eared trophy.
The latest suggestion is that Laurent Blanc will be axed if he fails to land this season’s competition, with Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger targeted for a late-in-the-day career move to take over.
It’s a fanciful dream; France’s most respected boss returning to his homeland and guiding the country’s biggest powerhouse to continental domination. But it’s a fairytale.
Blanc could quite easily fail to meet his boss’ expectations of winning the Champions League this season (his side are 11/1 to grab the trophy), but nabbing Wenger to replace him is an ambition even beyond conquering UEFA’s prestigious tournament.
The Gunners tactician has a contract until the end of next season, whereby retirement is his next logical step. The 65-year-old stated in an interview at the start of this campaign that he’d find it difficult to manage another club.
Beyond an understandable possible lack of motivation to start again in new surroundings after becoming part of the furniture in north London, Wenger wouldn’t exactly arrive in his capital city with a guarantee of Champions League success.
Arsenal have not gone beyond the last 16 of the competition in five straight campaigns and will be hard-pressed to escape Group F this year having lost the opening two games to teams not named Bayern Munich.
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