The Al-Ittihad board has settled the controversy surrounding coach Laurent Blanc’s future following Friday’s 2-0 defeat to Al-Nassr in the Saudi League.
Blan has been subjected to much criticism since the start of the season, just months after successfully leading the club to a domestic double.
Blan has lost three of his seven matches this season in all competitions with Al-Ittihad, most notably against Al-Nassr recently and against Al-Wahda in the AFC Champions League.
Al-Youm newspaper confirmed that the Al-Ittihad board has no intention of dismissing Blanc despite pressure from fans, and insists he is the right man in the right place.
The French coach enjoys strong support from his players, led by Karim Benzema, which makes his position temporarily secure if he can return to winning ways.
Blanc will lead Al-Ittihad in the upcoming match against Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai in the AFC Champions League Elite Group. Should the team lose, the Al-Ittihad management’s stance toward him could change, but so far, there is great confidence in the Frenchman’s ability to correct the situation.
