Fernandez to leave PSG

Lack of success
Fernandez cited a failure to bring success to the Parc des Princes as his reason for stepping down. He told the French daily newspaper Le Parisien: "I will not be the coach of PSG next season. A lot of time and thought went into making this decision, but you have to be strong enough to recognise your mistakes."

'I made mistakes'
The 43-year-old, who rejoined PSG as coach in December 2000, added: "I made mistakes. I thought I could succeed on my own, but my love for Paris made me blind." Despite last Sunday's resounding 3-0 victory at leaders Olympique de Marseille, Fernandez's team are in sixth place in the Ligue 1. PSG had topped the table back in November, when they were also knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Portuguese side Boavista FC.

Money shortage
Following his decision to replace Philippe Bergeroo and return to the club he led to the 1996 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, Fernandez had compared managing PSG to "having a Ferrari but no fuel". "The club are broke and even the best coach in the world could not change that," he said.

'PSG's biggest fan'
A former French international and PSG midfield player, Fernandez first took the reigns at PSG between 1994 and '96. He then moved to Spain for three years with Athletic Club Bilbao before resuming his love affair with "the club I cherish". "I do not know what I will do next season," Fernandez said. "But I will probably get a season ticket for the Parc des Princes with my sons and be the club's biggest fan. But I will never coach again."