Platini happy PSG chose Blanc

UEFA president Michel Platini has praised Paris Saint-Germain for appointing a French head coach with Laurent Blanc replacing Carlo Ancelotti.

While PSG having reportedly chased the likes of Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger, Andre Villas-Boas and Michael Laudrup, the reigning Ligue 1 champions eventually installed Blanc as head coach on Tuesday, replacing Ancelotti, who has joined Real Madrid.

But Platini believes it is a good that the French league champions have a native coach and has backed Blanc, who has previously managed Bordeaux and France, to prove himself to PSG’s impressive squad.

“It is a beautiful challenge for Laurent Blanc,” Platini said on Wednesday.

“It’s great that Paris-Saint-Germain chose a French coach, it’s good.

“Now it is up to him to show his players that he deserves that position.

“It is very good challenge to have and for Laurent it is a good opportunity.”

Platini also reaffirmed his and UEFA’s commitment to financial fair play rules.

“The position of the UEFA will always remain the same regarding the financial fair play,” Platini said.

“It is going to be exactly the same answers I gave before.

“We are starting with this financial fair play, which will be more fair, we are going to start the process from 2014.

“Those who have not followed the rules, without speaking about a club in particular, will have to answer to UEFA, any other club will be fine.”