Between anger and uncertainty, Parisian supporters are apprehensive before the knockout stages of the Champions League against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
“Beer always tastes more bitter after defeat.” Installed in a bar in the capital, Jérémy, PSG cap on his head, digests badly the new setback (3-1) suffered by Paris Saint-Germain against AS Monaco, Saturday February 11. As the Champions League round of 16 approaches against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, February 14, this 34-year-old Parisian supporter does not hide his concern. “We get roughed up in Marseille on Wednesday and we play the same match three days later in Monaco. How many are we going to take against Bayern?” Jeremy’s fears are not unique. For some PSG fans, this Champions League meeting revives old demons that they preferred to forget.
The state of mind and the stars annoy
“We’re fed up with these stars who don’t love the jersey”, protests Guillaume. Beyond the defeat, this Parisian supporter does not tolerate the face displayed by his team on the lawn of Louis II. “You say to yourself ‘ok, there will be a reaction of pride after Marseille’. And no, after 4 minutes, you understand that it will be a nightmare.” Thomas himself admits having “the impression that the group is completely disconnected from reality. When you see Neymar’s birthday party just after a rather narrow victory against Toulouse while he was injured, it is very representative of the harmful environment around PSG. This workforce does not respect the public “. An impression shared in particular by the Parisian ultras present at Louis II on Sunday, who expressed their anger at the final whistle.
Even Marquinhos, one of the darlings of the Park, was taken in flu Saturday. After the defeat in Monaco, he did not come toParisian supporters present at the stadium. The PSG captain again angered some by saying, on Prime Video, that the players were “humans, who left their families at home” to play matches. “And the soldiers who go on a mission for 6 months in a hot country, what do they have to say? We walk on the head, William is sorry. For me, Marquinhos signed his dismissal from the captaincy in Monaco.”
@marquinhos_m5 “We are humans. »
The Parisian captain tries to explain to us how the @PSG_inside could recover. #ASMPSG I #PrimeVideoLigue1 pic.twitter.com/KLM8jGhPRC
— Prime Video Sport France (@PVSportFR) February 11, 2023
Comparable opinion from Cyril’s side: “Although he has always been an exemplary player, he should have left a long time ago.. He never managed to mourn the Remontada [contre le FC Barcelone, le 8 mars 2017], he misses the decisive penalty during the elimination of Brazil at the last World Cup. He’s dead in his head.” Paris fans fear further disillusionment with Bayern Munich, in the straight linePSG’s last missed European campaigns.
“As soon as we find ourselves in a bad patch, we are afraid, we liquefy and we do not know how to turn our backs”, regrets Guillaume. However, this Champions League remains the promise of a Qatari project started in June 2011. Objective assumed upon the arrival of Nasser Al-Khelaïfi at the head of the club, she still has not added to the list. “Given the means deployed since the arrival of Qatar, PSG should, must or will have to win the Champions League. If they don’t, it will be a huge failure”, warns Thomas.
The return of Kylian Mbappé is debated
Thigh injury on Wednesday February 1 against Montpellier and announced unavailable for three weeks, Kylian Mbappé will finally be present in Christophe Galtier’s group for the reception of Bayern Munich. Finally, some reassuring news for Paris Saint-Germain fans. “He is the best player in the world right now and no one can do without the best player in the world”, enthuses Teo. Cyril shares this opinion and considers the return of the French international to be essential. “It’s obviously different when Kylian is there. He scares his opponents and he reassures his teammates”he analyzes.
Guillaume, happy with his return, is not reassured: “We have to manage to create a team game identity and not settle into a dynamic of dependence on Mbappé. When you look at the big European teams, they know how to win without their executives. At PSG, we can’t do it.” Beginning of response Tuesday, at the Parc des Princes.