Blanc pledges punishment for ´pathetic´ Aurier

Laurent Blanc has labelled the actions of Paris Saint-Germain full-back Serge Aurier as “pathetic” after the club suspended the Ivory Coast international for remarks made in a video on social media.

PSG confirmed Aurier would not feature in Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 clash against Chelsea after appearing in a video responding to supporters in which he appeared to make controversial comments about head coach Blanc and other team-mates, including star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Head coach Blanc signed Aurier from Toulouse in 2014, initially on a season-long loan, and speaking ahead of the Chelsea match insisted the 23-year-old would “suffer the consequences” for his actions.

“I will not be using the media to sort out a problem between Serge Aurier and myself,” he said. “This is how he repays me. It is pathetic. He has punished himself and the club. He’ll suffer the consequences.

“How can I react? Very badly. In our country we can have our own opinions but, that guy, two years ago I committed myself to bring him to Paris. What I saw yesterday was all the thank-you I got.

“My team is a little disturbed. But we will truly prepare [for Chelsea] today.”

Blanc lamented the spectacle of Aurier issuing a public apology for a social-media indiscretion ahead of a vital match, and the 1998 World Cup-winner believes modern players find themselves in such situations too often.

“In this generation there are many players who spend their time having to apologise,” he said.

“Before apologising you should think more about what to do. You don’t need to be sorry every time.

“I will not say more because we are on the eve of a crucial match. He penalised himself.

“He should be preparing to play a Champions League knockout match tomorrow. That would be better than staying at home.”