PARIS - PSG coach Laurent Blanc has hit out at Serge Aurier's social media rant against him and players including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, saying he has "penalised himself."
Aurier has been suspended indefinitely by the Ligue 1 leaders after insulting Blanc and several teammates during an extraordinary live Periscope session.
As he prepared his team to take on Chelsea in the Champions League round-of-16 without the Ivory Coast international, Blanc said: "That guy, that boy -- two years ago I committed myself to make him come to Paris and what happened yesterday is all the thank you I got. I think it's pitiful.
"He penalised himself [with his actions]. He's a boy that should be preparing for a game in the Champions League.
"It's also bad for the club -- it's penalising the club. The player is a big boy, he can do what he wants, but he's penalising the club through the image he gives and what he said.
"If he's got a problem with me, I won't use you journalists to handle the problem. That's for sure. I'm 50 years old and I won't change now. If I've a problem with Serge, I will deal with that directly."
Leading figures in French football have voiced their support for Blanc in the aftermath of the incident.