Laurent Blanc has labelled Serge Aurier "pitiful" for the detrimental comments made on social media about the Paris Saint-Germain coach and some of his team-mates over the weekend, and accused the Ivorian defender of damaging the image of the club.
Aurier had conducted a question and answer session on Periscope, effectively being interviewed by his friend Mamadou Doucoure, a former reserve player at Lens and Atletico Madrid, late on Saturday night in which he appeared to describe Blanc as a “faggot”. In the comments, which were picked up on an online forum, he also suggested the PSG manager was guilty of favouritism towards Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with the Swede having been among a number of players to demand a transcript of the broadcast when they arrived at training at Camp des Loges on Sunday.
The 23-year-old Ivorian, a regular in the team this season, has since apologised publicly for his comments, though the PSG president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, moved swiftly to suspend him, ruling him out of Tuesday's Champions League knockout tie against Chelsea. Confirmation of the internal club discipline was relayed to the squad by the sporting director, Olivier Letang, on Sunday. Blanc was duly asked about the incident at his pre-match briefing at Parc des Princes. "How did I react [to Aurier's comments]? Very badly. Very badly," he said. "Because we think whatever we like - this is a democracy and we are free to think about things, have our opinions - but that boy ...
“Two years ago, I committed myself to bring him to Paris, so to see what I saw yesterday ... that’s the thanks I get? It’s pitiful. I won’t say more, because I’m here to talk about the Chelsea game. A very important match. But he has penalised himself. He should have been preparing today for a last-16 round game in the Champions League. That would have been better than staying at home not knowing what to do with himself. It’s bad for him, but what I won’t accept is that he’s damaged the club.”
Blanc added: “The player is a big boy. He can do what he wants and handle the consequences, but he has penalised the club: through the image he’s put out there, and what he said. I know this new generation of players and many of them spend their time feeling sorry for themselves, and apologising for things they’ve done. But perhaps they should be thinking about what they’re saying rather than looking to apologise.”
Aurier had issued a videoed apology through the club’s in-house television channel. “I made a big mistake, I am here to say sorry to the coach, the club and my team-mates, and to the supporters because they are the most important people,” said the player, who boasts 25 international caps. “I want to apologise especially to the coach, I can only thank him for all he has done for me since I arrived in Paris.
“He wanted me and since I came here everything has gone really well ... I owe him a lot and that is why I apologise sincerely to him for what was said, which I deeply regret. I will accept any sanction the club impose on me regarding this incident. I made a mistake, it was unforgivable and I am ready to face all the consequences.”
Asked if Aurier, signed from Toulouse in 2014, would ever play for PSG again under his stewardship, Blanc added: “You know very well that the club have taken some decisions, and ratified them. If there are any further decisions for the club, you’ll find out about them in due course. If Serge has a problem with me, I won’t use the press to address that problem. I will talk to him directly. I won’t do it through you.
“I don’t think any club is immune from problems like this, especially social media. We’re never safe. Look what happens in England with social media. It’s really difficult to control everything, particularly communications-wise. Every club suffers that way.”
Blanc will choose between Marquinhos and Gregory van der Wiel to fill in at right-back for Aurier, and must decide whether Marco Verratti, recently returned from a groin problem but having signed a contract extension through to 2020, is restored to midfield for the visit of Chelsea.
PSG are currently 24 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 and qualified for the League Cup final, and were able to rest the likes of Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Maxwell and Thiago Motta for Saturday’s goalless draw with Lille.
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