I left because I wasn't wanted, says Blanc

I left because I wasn't wanted, says Blanc

Laurent Blanc left his post as France coach purely because the French Football Federation (FFF) did not want to prolong his contract, he told French television Canal+ on Wednesday.

Laurent Blanc, pictured in June 2012, left his post as France coach purely because the French Football Federation (FFF) did not want to prolong his contract, he told French television Canal+ on Wednesday.

"I left because my employers did not want to renew my contract," said Blanc, who quit after France's 2-0 loss to eventual champions Spain in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals.

"In a sporting project, there are two people who can decide -- the employer and the employee. If my contract wasn't renewed, it's because there was no mutual agreement about continuing between the employer and the employee.

"When your employer waits, and waits, and waits, you end up deciding for him. The offer never came."

Blanc also asserted that his departure was "not because of the players".

Following the Euro, Samir Nasri, Jeremy Menez, Yann M'Vila and Hatem Ben Arfa all went before the FFF's disciplinary commission over concerns about their behaviour. Nasri was suspended for three matches, and Menez for one.

The Manchester City's midfielder's ban has now been served, making him available for France's friendly with Japan on October 12 and the 2014 World Cup qualifier in Spain four days later, but Blanc said it was up to his successor, Didier Deschamps, to decide whether or not to bring Nasri back into the fold.

"It's his problem," said Blanc.

"When you're the national coach, you see everyone giving their opinions -- those who are competent, and those who are incompetent. And you fight against that, so I'm not going to do the same thing as the others."

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