Monday 15 February 2016 18:40, UK
Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc says he reacted "very badly" after Serge Aurier's social media outburst against him and some of the defender's team-mates.
Aurier has been suspended by the club and will not face Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday after a video emerged online in which he allegedly directed homophobic slurs at a number of club figures, including Blanc.
The 23-year-old, who has made 24 appearances for the club this season, also appeared to abuse team-mates including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Salvatore Sirigu, Gregory van der Wiel and Angel Di Maria.
PSG have offered Blanc their full support, but ahead of the Parc des Princes clash the coach called Aurier "pitiful" after bringing him to the French capital two years ago.
"How did I react? Very badly," he said. "Very badly because we can think whatever we think, this is a democracy and we are free to think, and thankfully we can have our own opinions in our country and that's good.
"But I think that guy, that boy... really two years ago I committed myself to making him come to Paris and seeing what I saw yesterday that's all the thanks I got and I think that's really pitiful.
He (Aurier) is a boy that should be preparing today for a last-16 game of the Champions League. That would've been better instead of staying at home not knowing what to do.
"It is penalising for him but what I do not accept either is that it is also bad for the club - it is penalising the club.
"The player is a big boy, he can do what he wants and he will handle the consequences. There are many, many people in that generation that spend their time feeling sorry and excusing themselves but I think before excusing you need to think about what you do.
"He's a boy that should be preparing today for a last-16 game of the Champions League. That would've been better instead of staying at home not knowing what to do."
Blanc promised to address Aurier directly, not through the media, but dismissed the notion the incident would not have taken place at a more established club, like two sides from his playing days, Manchester United or Barcelona.
"If he's got a problem with me, I won't use you journalists to handle the problem. That's for sure," he added. "I don't think any club is immune from those things, especially with social media. We're never safe."
Aurier has already apologised for his comments and thanked Blanc "for all he did for me since my arrival here in Paris".
The defender added: "He wanted me, I came and everything is going really well. I owe him a lot. I accept all the sanctions the club will take against me."
