Blanc: No agreement for France job
Reuters - Friday 05 February 2010, 13:37
PARIS - Brief news from Ligue 1 before this
weekend's matches.
Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc has denied an unsourced
report in French paper Le Parisien saying he had agreed in
principle to leave the Ligue 1 leaders and succeed Raymond
Domenech as France coach after World Cup.
"I'm gonna be short but polite: I deny everything that has
been said," a clearly irritated Blanc told reporters.
The champions, six points clear at the top of the standings,
will miss Argentine defender Diego Placente, who has returned
home for the birth of his second child, when they visit
mid-table Stade Rennes on Saturday.
Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan returned to Rennes this week
after his national team lost to Egypt in the African Nations Cup
final last Sunday and will probably start on the bench.
Fourth-placed Olympique Lyon will welcome back goalkeeper
Hugo Lloris when they play at Toulouse on Sunday.
Lloris missed last weekend's game against Paris Saint-Germain
with a sore throat.
Midfielder Jeremy Toulalan is suspended while left back Aly
Cissokho could be rested.
Paris Saint-Germain coach Antoine Kombouare has questioned
the quality of his squad before they host Lorient on Saturday, saying too many of his players did not do their share of
the job.
"I wonder if I have players in my squad that are good enough
to play with PSG. Yes, there are a lot but many of them are
bone-idle and it bothers me," Kombouare told RTL radio.
The capital side have slipped to 14th in the 20-team table
after three successive defeats.
They will miss suspended defender Mamadou Sakho against
Lorient.
Defender Gregory Bourillon will not make his Lorient debut
this weekend after joining the Brittany side from Paris Saint-Germain this week.
Both clubs agreed Bourillon would not play against his
former side.
Olympique Marseille, who are seventh 12 points off the
pace, will field a depleted defence when they host Valenciennes
on Sunday.
Argentine centre-back Gabriel Heinze is still out with a
thigh injury while Nigeria left back Taye Taiwo, who has just
returned from the African Nations Cup, and goalkeeper Steve
Mandanda (sore groin) are doubtful.
Belgium forward Eden Hazard is a doubt for third-placed
Lille's game at Nice on Saturday.
Hazard, 19, who extended his contract with Lille until 2014
this week, has a sore knee.
Lille will welcome back midfielder Yohan Cabaye from
suspension while new signing Portuguese defender Ricardo Costa
could start the game.