Friday, 27th September, 2013
Tottenham Hotspur are one step ahead of Paris Saint-Germain in terms of development, in the opinion of the London club's manager Andre Villas-Boas, who has explained why he snubbed overtures from the French champions to remain at White Hart Lane.
PSG were left looking for a new coach after Carlo Ancelotti opted to jump ship to Real Madrid, just months after securing the Ligue 1 title for the Parc des Princes outfit.
Villas-Boas was strongly linked with taking over and he admits that he did speak to PSG's owners, but pointed out that when weighing everything up, he feels Tottenham are more advanced in their project.
"I have a good relationship with Nasser [Al-Khelaifi, PSG president, ed.] with whom I speak regularly. I knew him because I collaborated with Al-Jazeera and I was invited to Doha where they showed me the plans for the 2022 World Cup – I was impressed, too", Villas-Boas told L'Equipe.
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"All will be built to ensure a unique experience for fans. With Nasser, we have respect for each other. That PSG approached me was reported, but I wanted to stay for a second year at Tottenham, relying on the work of last season, having two consecutive seasons at the same club for the first time in my career.
"The club followed me on several points, for example by appointing a technical director in Franco Baldini. I wanted to continue the project here."
The Portuguese boss admitted however that PSG were a tempting prospect, even if he concluded that he was better remaining at Spurs.
"If other people like the way you train, it's flattering. But Tottenham is a great club.
"PSG is undergoing changes in its structures that Tottenham have already begun. Tottenham are one step ahead.
"These are two teams that have won titles. But PSG's ambition, given the recent investment in the last two years, is to win the Champions League. For us, our ambition is to participate."
Pressed on whether he received a concrete offer from PSG though, Villas-Boas replied: "We never got to that stage."
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