PSG return to local labour against rising Lyon as Champions League glory beckons
It's just as well Paris Saint-Germain's players enjoy a 10-point lead in Ligue 1 or they might have to think seriously about the French top flight rather than their impending clashes in a couple of weeks against Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
PSG return to domestic action on Sunday night at the Parc des Princes against Lyon, who they will face in the Coupe de France final on May 25 at the Pierre Stade Mauroy in Lille.
Lyon's only chance of winning a trophy this season will come in that match in northern France. By then, PSG should have won the Ligue 1 title for the tenth time in twelve seasons.
Marseille, a potential opponent, has also advanced to the semi-finals of a European competition after defeating Benfica on penalties in the Europa League on Thursday night.
They will play Atalanta for a spot in the final against Bayer Leverkusen or Roma. Marseille's victory on Thursday night prompted Ligue 1 organizers on Friday to rearrange the last round of games from 9 p.m. on 11 May to the same time on 12 May, giving Marseille time to recover from the second leg of their semi-final on May 9.
By then, PSG will most likely be providing run-outs to the squad's fringe players as they recover from Champions League elimination or eagerly await a shot at European club football's most prestigious title.
Despite PSG's Ligue 1 dominance, May 2024 will be only the club's fourth appearance in the Champions League last four since its European Cup triumph in 1992.
Run
Three of the trips to the semi-finals were made possible by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), which took over the PSG organization in March 2012 and began investing billions of euros in recruiting some of the world's greatest players as well as highly regarded coaches.
Thomas Tuchel led the way to the 2020 Champions League final. The German was fired a few months after the loss to Bayern Munich.
His successor, Mauricio Pochettino, took the team to the last four in 2021, where they were defeated by Manchester City. And then nada.
Despite the absence of superstars such as Neymar, Marco Verratti, and Lionel Messi, Luis Enrique's less glittering constellation has shone.
The two-legged encounter on May 1 and 7 in Dortmund, followed by Paris, will be a test of mettle.
Enrique, who took over in July, looks to be growing confident that his demeanor and methods are paying off.
His confident assertion that his team will win the quarter-final second leg in Barcelona reeked of hubris, especially after Raphinha opened the scoring for the hosts, giving them a 4-2 aggregate lead.
But Barcelona experienced its own catastrophe. Or was it the Farcelona? Ronald Araujo was sent off in the 29th minute for a cynical tackle on Bradley Barcola, and Joao Cancelo gave away an unnecessary penalty on the hour mark, just after coach Xavi Hernandez was fired for petulance on the sidelines.
"I think that throughout the season, our supporters have seen our team working and fighting," Enrique stated, somewhat drily, after PSG won 4-1 on aggregate to advance 6-4.
"They believe we are a team that works until the end. Everyone expected a defeat, so this is really encouraging."
A victory in Paris on Sunday night would practically confirm Lyon's Ligue 1 status and maintain them in contention for a spot in next season's Europa Conference League.
The third-tier European event is a far cry from the lofty goals set when John Textor took over the club two years ago.
The American tycoon's projections included competing with PSG for the Ligue 1 title and producing impressive results in the Champions League. So why not? But not just yet.
Return
Earlier this season, Lyon, winners of seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles at the turn of the century, appeared doomed to squander their fortunes in Ligue 2.
Under former France manager Laurent Blanc, they earned one point from their first four games. Replacement Fabio Grosso added six more to the pot before shuffling out after eight games in control.
And his replacement, Pierre Sage, didn't get off to a good start, losing two more games.
Lyon were a weakened titan, scoring seven points in 14 games. But Sage has spurred the most spectacular of comebacks, sweeping to the Coupe de France final and steadily rising to seventh place in Ligue 1 with 41 points from 29 games.
"Since December, when he took over a struggling team, Pierre Sage has been hammering home the point that only hard work can turn things around," said regional politician Sébastien Michel in a column for Lyonmag.
"A rather conventional line in these circumstances," said the mayor of Écully. "But where he has made a mark, particularly with his players, is in his ability to demonstrate humility on a daily basis. Whether it's the way he speaks, his post-match demeanor, whether he wins or loses, or even his attire.
"Everything about this man emanates humility, in a time when the culture encourages literal egotism.
The players' attitude of humility is contagious. They have found their capacity to work together and for one other after a season of extreme individualism at the beginning.
"Even some individuals renowned for their exaggerated selfishness on the ball seem to have been contaminated, and are making more and more runs and collective choices."
The eulogy might also be used for PSG. The athletes that hit the field in the early days of the QSI era frequently exuded affluence.
Enrique has developed a lot more mature appearance, and the 53-year-old Spaniard has reacted to the widely expected departure of striker Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid with the fluidity that marked his own playing days.
"We're going to wait for Kylian to speak," Enrique remarked following the encounter in Barcelona. "And when he does, we'll share our thoughts. I will remain cool until the parties have spoken. It's like a trial. I'm a witness, and I'm waiting for both parties to speak."
Mbappé, who was heavily chastised for his bad performance in the first leg in Paris on April 10, made the appropriate sounds after scoring twice in the 4-1 victory.
Dream
"I dream of winning the Champions League with PSG," stated the 25-year-old, who has been with the club since 2017.
"We've taken one more step and beaten a great team," said PSG's all-time leading scorer. "I am very proud to play for this club and represent the club from my country's capital. It's wonderful to have evenings like this as a Parisian."
The open secret is that Mbappé is joining Real Madrid next season, but the transfer will not be disclosed until one of the teams is eliminated from the Champions League.
Madrid will face Bayern Munich in the semifinals after defeating holders Manchester City. A Madrid vs. PSG final is in the offing, but Dream
"I dream of winning the Champions League with PSG," stated the 25-year-old, who has been with the club since 2017.
"We've taken one more step and beaten a great team," said PSG's all-time leading scorer. "I am very proud to play for this club and represent the club from my country's capital. It's wonderful to have evenings like this as a Parisian."
The open secret is that Mbappé is joining Real Madrid next season, but the transfer will not be disclosed until one of the teams is eliminated from the Champions League.
Madrid will face Bayern Munich in the semifinals after defeating holders Manchester City. A Madrid vs. PSG final is in the offing, but Dream
"I dream of winning the Champions League with PSG," stated the 25-year-old, who has been with the club since 2017.
"We've taken one more step and beaten a great team," said PSG's all-time leading scorer. "I am very proud to play for this club and represent the club from my country's capital. It's wonderful to have evenings like this as a Parisian."
The open secret is that Mbappé is joining Real Madrid next season, but the transfer will not be disclosed until one of the teams is eliminated from the Champions League.
Madrid will face Bayern Munich in the semifinals after defeating holders Manchester City. A Madrid vs. PSG final is in the offing, butDream
"I dream of winning the Champions League with PSG," stated the 25-year-old, who has been with the club since 2017.
"We've taken one more step and beaten a great team," said PSG's all-time leading scorer. "I am very proud to play for this club and represent the club from my country's capital. It's wonderful to have evenings like this as a Parisian."
The open secret is that Mbappé is joining Real Madrid next season, but the transfer will not be disclosed until one of the teams is eliminated from the Champions League.
Madrid will face Bayern Munich in the semifinals after defeating holders Manchester City. A Madrid vs. PSG final is in the offing, butDream
"I dream of winning the Champions League with PSG," stated the 25-year-old, who has been with the club since 2017.
"We've taken one more step and beaten a great team," said PSG's all-time leading scorer. "I am very proud to play for this club and represent the club from my country's capital. It's wonderful to have evenings like this as a Parisian."
The open secret is that Mbappé is joining Real Madrid next season, but the transfer will not be disclosed until one of the teams is eliminated from the Champions League.
Madrid will face Bayern Munich in the semifinals after defeating holders Manchester City. A Madrid vs. PSG final is in the offing, butDream
"I dream of winning the Champions League with PSG," stated the 25-year-old, who has been with the club since 2017.
"We've taken one more step and beaten a great team," said PSG's all-time leading scorer. "I am very proud to play for this club and represent the club from my country's capital. It's wonderful to have evenings like this as a Parisian."
The open secret is that Mbappé is joining Real Madrid next season, but the transfer will not be disclosed until one of the teams is eliminated from the Champions League.
Madrid will face Bayern Munich in the semifinals after defeating holders Manchester City. A Madrid vs. PSG final is in the offing, butDream
"I dream of winning the Champions League with PSG," stated the 25-year-old, who has been with the club since 2017.
"We've taken one more step and beaten a great team," said PSG's all-time leading scorer. "I am very proud to play for this club and represent the club from my country's capital. It's wonderful to have evenings like this as a Parisian."
The open secret is that Mbappé is joining Real Madrid next season, but the transfer will not be disclosed until one of the teams is eliminated from the Champions League.
Madrid will face Bayern Munich in the semifinals after defeating holders Manchester City. A Madrid vs. PSG final is in the offing, but then so is an all-German final.
That latter possibility would at least spark speculation about Mbappé's future. And let PSG focus on the Coupe de France final and additional domestic success. Plus ça change.
