No surprise French clubs do not excel in C1: Blanc

Laurent Blanc claimed it was no surprise a French team has not won the Champions League in 15 years, saying his Bordeaux side's lack of individual talent and a 100-million-euro budget cost them dear.

Bordeaux's 2-0 defeat in Rome on Wednesday night meant they have the consolation of the UEFA Cup instead of a continued Champions League campaign.

The former World Cup-winning defender claimed the 16 first knockout round qualifiers have big money to spend to get the players required to compete at the highest level on the continental stage.

“I thought we were not far from going through but that little bit extra we needed is in fact a huge gap,” Blanc said after Thursday training.

“We played with what we had and I didn't think Rome were that difficult opponents but we had to be better than our best — 120 percent — with players who could make the difference.

“There were problems in teamwork, certainly, but also individual deficiencies which meant we were not able to go any further. You can get away with it in the French league but you are exposed once you get to the Champions League.

“It's an undeniable reality. Look at the 16 teams which qualified and — Panathinaikos apart — they are all among Europe's biggest clubs. It's not for nothing that no French club has won the Champions League for 15 years.

“It's a question of talent and of money. I'm not saying it's only money that matters in football but it helps an awful lot. All the clubs which qualified have a budget of at least 100 million euros (as opposed to Bordeaux's 70 million).

“This is not being pessimistic, just realistic,” added Blanc whose contract runs till June 2009 though his future will be discussed in the next few days.