PSG have potential to win Champions League, says Blanc

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

Newly-named Paris St Germain soccer team coach Blanc attends a news conference after a training session at the French National Institute at Clairefontaine

Newly-named Paris St Germain soccer team coach Blanc attends a news conference after a training session at the French National Institute at Clairefontaine

Last season, PSG clinched their first French league title since 1994 and reached the quarter-finals in Europe's premium club 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 1 campaign on Friday with a trip to Montpellier but Cavani, who joined from Napoli for a French record 64 million euro (55 million pounds) fee, is doubtful because he is not yet fully fit.

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Mark Meadows)


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