Football: PSG have potential to win Champions League, says coach Laurent Blanc

"Paris can win it like Chelsea did it when they were least expected to," Laurent Blanc, who took over from the departing Carlo Ancelotti in June, told French daily Le Parisien on Thursday, Aug 8, 2013. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
"Paris can win it like Chelsea did it when they were least expected to," Laurent Blanc, who took over from the departing Carlo Ancelotti in June, told French daily Le Parisien on Thursday, Aug 8, 2013. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP

PARIS (REUTERS) - Paris St Germain, who have splashed out over 300 million euros (S$506.5 million) on the transfer market since being taken over by Qatari investors in 2011, now have the potential to win the Champions League, according to coach Laurent Blanc.

Last season, PSG clinched their first French league title since 1994 and reached the quarter-finals in Europe's premium club football competition.

That was before they added Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani, Brazilian centre-back Marquinhos and French full-back prospect Lucas Digne to a star-studded squad already featuring the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Javier Pastore, Lucas and Thiago Silva.

"Paris can win it like Chelsea did it when they were least expected to," Blanc, who took over from the departing Carlo Ancelotti in June, told French daily Le Parisien on Thursday.

"It all depends on the draw, the pot, the players in form at that time... I prefer to say that Paris has the potential to win the Champions League," the former France coach added.

"We want to do at least as well as last season."

PSG start their Ligue One campaign on Friday with a trip to Montpellier but Cavani, who joined from Napoli for a French record 64 million euro fee, is doubtful because he is not yet fully fit.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.