Blanc urges Paris Saint-Germain to prove European credentials

AMSTERDAM, Sept 16, 2014 (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc has said the Ligue 1 champions must prove they have what it takes to go all the way in the Champions League ahead of their clash with Ajax on Wednesday.

Knocked out in the quarter-finals in each of the last two seasons, first by Barcelona and then by Chelsea, PSG are determined to go further this time and are widely expected to come through Group F, which also contains Barca, APOEL of Cyprus and the Dutch champions.

Ajax coach Frank de Boer sought to put pressure on the French capital club ahead of the game at the Amsterdam Arena by labelling them as one of the contenders to lift the trophy, but Blanc played down expectations.

"Of course PSG are becoming better and better known on a European level because of the players they have signed and their results," he said.

"But to be among the favourites is one thing, to prove it on the pitch is much more difficult."

PSG's Qatari president Nasser Al-Khelaifi set his side the target of winning the Champions League by 2016, but Blanc insisted he has not been set any specific goal for this season.

He said: "The club have not given me any precise objective. But when they say to you that you have to go as far as possible in the Champions League, I understand that means to try and go all the way.

"It is easy to say. We can say it is the objective but so many clubs can say the same. Getting out of the group stage is the first concrete objective. The first match is important and could condition what comes next."

Blanc was full of praise for Ajax, even if the four-time European champions can no longer be considered the force they once were at continental level.

"When you come to this stadium and walk down the corridors, you see what Ajax represent," said the 48-year-old Blanc.

"For me they are a legendary club. I grew up watching them play total football. They have had some great players and coaches."

Ajax edged out struggling Heracles 2-1 in the Dutch Eredivisie at the weekend and de Boer knows they will need to perform better on Wednesday.

"We are without doubt not the strongest side there is but we showed last year that we could beat the strong sides," said de Boer, whose side beat Barcelona 2-1 at home in last season's competition.

"I expect my players to make the most of tomorrow's match. We can and must play much better."

The game will see former Ajax stars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gregory Van der Wiel come up against their former clubs, while the visitors have doubts over the fitness of their two summer signings David Luiz and Serge Aurier.

However, both trained on Tuesday and Blanc said: "I think and I hope that both will be ready to play."