Laurent Blanc knows that it has been too hard for his players to concentrate on Saturday's game after last week's attacks in France, so he doesn't want to talk about the subject anymore.
Usually a calm fellow, the former French center back replied angrily to a line of inquiries about last Friday's incidents, in which a number of his players, such as goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu and Javier Pastore, lost loved ones. Blanc threatened to leave the press conference if the reporter insisted on the matter.
"We’re not going to talk about this during the whole press conference, because I guarantee you, if you ask me one more question about the context, I’ll leave. Everyone is affected. The message we wish to get across, and I don’t think I’m the only one, is that despite everything – the images, the shock, being touched by these events, and although it’s no doubt easier said than done – life goes on," Blanc stated.
The team uploaded a video to promote their next match against Lorient, where there will be a ceremony to mourn those who lost their lives last week.
Blanc also had his say about playing this weekend, revealing that he supports the idea of going out there and do their job.
"It’s going to be hard to play football this weekend, for everyone, but we have to do it. It’s our duty to prepare well and to play as well as we can, despite the difficult context,”the coach added.
Finally, he praised all of his players, since they have kept a professional attitude despite the gloomy environment surrounding the team.
"As of today, no player has knocked on my door and said: ‘Coach, I’m not ready to play.’ I know some of them are very affected, practically everyone is. But, as I said, we have to prepare, we have to play a match ... when I say life goes on, I mean our job goes on," the coach concluded.
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