Laurent Blanc, the big humiliation

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By: Manu Tournoux

Laurent Blanc, his strong words on the success of PSG
The former Manchester United star and French defender winner of the World Cup, Laurent Blanc, was noted from his duties as a coach of Al-Ittihad, the Saudi Pro League club.

This decision comes only one day after the 2-0 defeat of the Champions of Saudi Arabia against Al-Nassr, a club led by Cristiano Ronaldo. It was the third defeat of Al-Ittihad in the 2025-26 season, which led to its dismissal.

White, former coach of French giants like Bordeaux, Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon, joined Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2024. For his first season in Saudi Arabia, Blanc led the Karim Benzema club to the national double, winning the Saudi pro League and the King's Cup. However, his grace period quickly ended with the club's 2-1 defeat against Al-Nassr in the semi-final of the Saudi Arabian Supercup last month. They lost two other games in September, including a defeat in their first AFC Champions League match against Al Wahda, then a 2-0 defeat against Al-Nassr on Friday.

White dismissed after the defeat of Al-Nassr

In the aftermath of Al-Nassr's 2-0 victory against Al-Ittihad thanks to goals from Sadio Mané and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Saudi Arabian champions decided to separate from their main trainer. White's departure was officially announced on social networks. Their press release said: “ Al-Ittihad announces the end of his contract with the main coach of the first team, Mr. Laurent Blanc, and his technical staff. »»

“I am surprised”

After the defeat against Al-Nassr, Blanc was asked about his future in Al-Ittihad. He replied: ” This is our first defeat for a long time. We recorded 17 wins and a draw in our last 18 home games. So I am surprised by this question, and we must review the results. »»

“I have defensive problems that I have already mentioned. I don't have a lot of solutions, because it all depends on the players available. Currently, I only have Ahmed Sharahili and Yassin (Al Jaber). Injuries are part of football, but the pressure of matches (every three days) has made the situation more difficult, and most injuries affect the defense. »»

According to journalist Matteo Moretto, the management of Al-Ittihad is planning to replace white by the former coach of FC Barcelona, ​​Xavi Hernandez, and would have contacted the Spaniard to inquire about his availability.

Manu Tournoux

Written by:

Manu Tournoux

Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, his expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans.