Le Guen happy to join PSG

Paris:

Paul Le Guen spoke of his pride at being named as Paris St Germain's new coach on Monday and outlined his determination to preserve the French club's Ligue-1 status. Le Guen is back in management after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract at PSG, just 11 days after parting company with Rangers. He replaces Guy Lacombe, who was dismissed following a poor run of results for PSG, which has seen them plummet to fourth from bottom in France's Ligue-1 standings. Speaking at a press conference, Le Guen said that he was overjoyed to be back at a club where he spent seven successful years as a player. The former Glasgow Rangers coach also commiserated with the man he has replaced at PSG. "I am happy and proud to become coach of Paris St Germain. It's a club where I played for seven years and to whom I have obviously remained very close - that's the first point I wish to make and the second is to assure Guy Lacombe of my respect and my professional respect. "He must be profoundly disappointed and hurt. I send him my best wishes. I tried to get in touch with him this morning. My thoughts are with him," he said. Gain experience It was always going to be difficult for Lacombe to hang on to his job following a 2-1 home defeat to 10-man Valenciennes on Saturday, which left PSG without a league win in eight matches and just one place and two points above the relegation zone. Le Guen, who made 248 league appearances for PSG, left French football in May 2005, after leading Lyon to three successive Ligue-1 titles at Stade Gerland. After a year without a club, during which time he turned down the chance to return to PSG as coach, he took charge of Rangers. So, why the return to PSG now rather then after his time at Lyon? "Some time ago, when I was contacted by Paris, I had just left Lyon, it was less obvious and I wanted to experience working in a foreign country. I am very happy to have lived through that - it teaches you a lot, it's very intense, I can't say I won't try again one day but it's a question of timing, of desire," he maintains. Le Guen left Rangers on January 4, after just seven months in charge at Ibrox. But he insisted that his time in Scotland was not a failure. "Not at all, not at all. I don't see it as a failure but more as a beautiful experience. The results were not a disaster, but I admit they were average, given the circumstances. It was very and I'm not disappointed nor wounded by what happened. I think I came back stronger with more experience," he adds. Le Guen conducted his first training session on Monday afternoon. He will make his first appearance as PSG coach on Wednesday in a re-scheduled Ligue-1 home game against Toulouse. PSG President Alain Cayzac hopes that the appointment of Le Guen will prove to be the correct decision in the long run.