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Laurent Blanc extends contract at Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain's French head coach Laurent Blanc
Image: Laurent Blanc has extended his stay with PSG

Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc has extended his contract with the French champions until the end of the 2017/18 season.

The 50-year-old former France and Manchester United defender, who won the World Cup in 1998, joined PSG in June 2013, replacing Carlo Ancelotti.

He has led the club to back-to-back Ligue 1 titles and last season completed an unprecedented treble of league, League Cup and French Cup triumphs.

Blanc has so far won eight trophies with the Parisians and looks on course to add another title this season with PSG leading the table by 24 points from Monaco with 13 matches to play.

They have, however, bowed out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage for the past three seasons and will continue their quest for a first Champions League crown when they host Chelsea on Tuesday in the first leg of their round of 16 clash.

Laurent Blanc takes his Paris Saint-Germain side to Lorient this weekend
Image: Blanc has a big game against Chelsea to look forward to on Tuesday

Blanc, whose existing contract was due to expire at the end of the season, described the offer of an extension as a "show of faith" from the club's wealthy Qatari owners.

"Quite simply, we need to look to the future, that's the way I see it," he told the club's official website.

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"Of course, it's a strong show of faith, and I'm very happy, also for my staff. A coach is nothing without his staff. For us, continuing the adventure is a show of faith but also a big responsibility.

"The club has ambitions both nationally and in Europe, and we'll do all we can to reach those objectives. We'll get there; we're ready. We're aware that we're at a big club where expectations are very high."

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian defender Thiago Silva holds up the trophy as Paris Saint-Germain's players
Image: Paris Saint-Germain have lifted the Coupe de France for the past two seasons

Blanc also admits winning the Champions League has got to be the target for his side now.

"When you're a coach, you need to be a winner, a competitor," he added.

"The lads who have been at Paris Saint-Germain for a few years are winners, conquerors - we've proved it out on the pitch. There's still one competition that has eluded us - the Champions League - and it's very difficult to win. But one day, Paris Saint-Germain will win it."

The news of Blanc's new deal also ends speculation linking former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho with the PSG job.

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