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PSG players speak up for Fournier

Thursday 15 December, 2005


A number of senior Paris Saint-Germain players have leapt to the defence of under-fire boss Laurent Fournier.

The Coach's position has looked to be on the line since President Pierre Blayau brought up the possibility of replacing him on Sunday, but around 80% of the squad are said to be behind the former PSG midfielder.

"He's done a very good job since he's been here, everything has been positive," explained left-back Sylvain Armand. "Now we have to prove that everyone is on his side.

"I think that if we want to save 'Lolo' we have to win [against Ajaccio on Saturday]. His fate may be in our hands.

"On the other hand, I also know that this type of decision is made above us and the players can't do much. Higher up, no one knows what goes on."

'Higher up', the club's owners Canal Plus may have already reached a conclusion, and those who know President Blayau say he is unlikely to be swayed by the opinions of the playing staff.

The decision-makers are believed to be dismayed by PSG's inconsistent results this term, yet the team nonetheless lie fourth in the standings at the moment, and two points out of second place.

"For us, things aren't clear. I just don't understand," added goalkeeper Lionel Letizi. "It doesn't make any sense that we've arrived at this point. It makes you think.

"All I know is that I'm Fournier's number one supporter, and I'm not the only one. The sole thing we can do is react on the pitch, but if his future is being played out above our heads, there's nothing we can do.

"Some people are able to put this into context - I can't. In six years at PSG I've seen a few things, but obviously I hadn't seen everything."

Meanwhile, Colombian centre-back Mario Yepes was also keen to lend his support to the beleaguered trainer, who took over from Vahid Halilhodzic at the start of the year.

"We're behind Laurent, there's no problem with him," he stated. "There's always something going on here, that's just the way it is."

Likewise, right-back Bernard Mendy commented: "I don't know if the Coach is finished, but we'll do everything we can to save his skin. In any case, that's what our objective in the Ajaccio game will be."

Defeat against Rolland Courbis's side on Saturday appears certain to spell the end for Fournier, and Blayau is reported to have already drawn up a shortlist of possible replacements.

Didier Deschamps has been ruled out due to his financial demands and Raynald Denoueix looks to be out of the running, so that leaves Paul Le Guen and ex-Sochaux boss Guy Lacombe as favourites.

Of those two, Lacombe has his nose in front because former Lyon Coach Le Guen is said to be reluctant to replace his friend and old teammate halfway through the season.




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