• Ligue 1

Benitez 'would be tempted by PSG'

ESPN staff
May 23, 2013
Could Rafa Benitez end up in Paris? © PA Photos
Enlarge

Rafael Benitez would be interested in any offer to fill Carlo Ancelotti's shoes at Paris Saint-Germain, according to a member of Chelsea's coaching staff.

Christophe Lollichon, 50, has been at the heart of Benitez's temporary reign in west London as the European champions' goalkeeping coach. The Frenchman believes the former Liverpool boss would not only find the PSG job attractive, but could also prove the perfect fit for the ambitious vision of the Ligue 1 champion's Qatari owners.

"I think it could tempt him. If Carlo Ancelotti wants to leave, PSG have to find another coach to continue building the club. If they go for Rafael Benitez, I suppose that it's not just for six or eight months as was the case at Chelsea," Lollichon, who joined Chelsea from Rennes at Petr Cech's behest in 2007, told RTL.

"The challenge must interest him as PSG are an up-and-coming club. I really think Rafael Benitez is a builder. He has ideas about how a club works and how it should evolve. By having a mid to long-term vision, the results could be interesting."

Benitez, however, is not the only candidate to replace Ancelotti, who won't learn more about his future until Monday at the earliest as both club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and sporting director Leonardo out of the French capital this weekend.

Le Parisien reported on Thursday that PSG officials had met former France coach Laurent Blanc earlier this week to discuss the possibility of him taking over at the Parc des Princes. Blanc has been out of work since quitting his job as national team coach following Les Bleus' exit from Euro 2012.

The French capital's daily added Leonardo would prefer either Benitez to take control or he himself occupy the dug-out as a temporary solution for a season before handing over to Arsene Wenger, 63, when the Arsenal coach's contract in north London expires in 2014.

Le Parisien claims the Brazilian, who has had brief coaching spells at Milan and Inter Milan, has already sounded out notable figures within the PSG squad as to their opinions on him taking charge of matters on as well as off the pitch.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices