Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc said on Tuesday he thinks his side are ready to reach at least the Champions League semifinals for the first time in more than 20 years.
Speaking ahead of PSG’s friendly clash on Wednesday in Qatar against Italy’s Inter Milan, Blanc said it was right that the pressure was on for PSG to perform in European football’s biggest domestic club competition.
At a joint press conference with Inter coach Roberto Mancini, Blanc said: “A season is judged on every trophy there is to win.
“In France last year we had a perfect season but quite rightly the expectation for a club of our size is to have a big performance in the Champions League.
“To be good in the Champions League, you have to be good in the league. It’s easy to say we need to qualify for the semifinals, but harder to achieve.
“I believe my players are ready to reach that goal this year, however.”
PSG have qualified for the last 16 of the tournament where they will play English champions Chelsea for the third successive season.
Chelsea triumphed in 2014 but PSG gained revenge in last season’s competition, before being knocked out by eventual winners Barcelona.
PSG last reached the semifinals in 1994/95, inspired by the tournament’s top scorer that season, George Weah. They were eventually beaten by AC Milan.
The Parisians have reached the last eight of the tournament in the preceding three seasons.
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