Blanc: PSG are ready to deliver in the Champions League

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The former France national team boss insists his players are in a position to go far in Europe's premier club competition and meet the objectives set by their Qatari owners.

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Laurent Blanc insists his side is finally ready to deliver in the Champions League.

The Ligue 1 big spenders have struggled to make a significant impact in Europe's elite club competition in recent seasons, despite significant investment from their Qatari backers.

Blanc's side have failed to make the semi-finals since the club were taken over in 2011 and must beat Chelsea for a second season in a row if they are to take a step closer to reaching the last four this time around. And the former France national team boss believes his team are well placed to do so.

He said: "A season is judged on every trophy there is to win. In France last year we had a perfect season but quite rightly the expectation for a club of our size is to have a big performance in the Champions League.

"To be good in the Champions League, you have to be good in the league. It's easy to say we need to qualify for the semi-finals, but harder to achieve. I believe my players are ready to reach that goal this year, however."

The runaway league leaders in France are currently enjoying a mid-season break in Doha where they are due to play a friendly against Inter on Wednesday, and Blanc insists it is only natural that a club of PSG's ambition takes part in such promotional activities.

"We realise that PSG has changed dimension," he said. "We are very happy to represent the club but we are here. People are aware of the ambition of PSG at national and European level. But winning the Champions League is not easy."

If PSG are to progress to the latter stages of the Champions League they are likely to do so with the squad that helped them reach the knockout stages as runners-up in Group A to Real Madrid, after Blanc admitted he was unlikely to be busy in the January transfer window. 

"I know of some interest in some of my players but there is nobody out of contract in January. There are some who might leave, you know the names. We will discuss with them at that time. The winter transfer window for me is not a good thing and I don't think much will happen."

Goal's Paris Saint-Germain correspondent Loic Tanzi is following the French champions in Qatar - you can keep up with the latest news in the PSG VIP section