Por forty-five minutes, the supporters of the Auteuil stand refused to encourage their team on Friday evening, during the victory of PSG against Rennes (1-0). Worse, they displayed their dissatisfaction with very aggressive banners towards the leaders – in particular Leonardo. “Disrespectful leaders, players without envy, jerseys without our colors… PSG’s only hat-trick this year”, could we read.
But how can we explain this rebellion when Paris Saint-Germain are largely at the top of Ligue 1, have won seven of the last ten French championship titles and the team has a five-star trio in attack? “But, you see, man doesn’t live on preserves alone! could we answer in the manner of Jean-Paul Belmondo in The Incorrigible.
Incorrigible, the Parisians are. On the field, we always wonder about the game plan, the desire of the players and the qualities of the coach. Against Rennes on Friday evening, the Parisians had to wait almost seventy minutes to frame a shot. All with Messi and Mbappé… The game is stereotyped, often sterile and almost always resting on the shoulders of a 23-year-old young man. What saddens us the most is the total lack of desire on the lawn, to smile. This team built with millions (almost a billion) does not have the soul of a conquering collective capable of surpassing itself. And now Real Madrid are approaching a high-risk Champions League Round of 16.
Michael Jordan stronger than PSG
Qatar celebrates its tenth year as owners of PSG this season. Beyond the (relative) sporting failures, risky recruitments, unfortunate departures, failed marketing moves, it is on the identity of the club that the balance sheet of QSI is the most questionable. Sweeping over more than forty years of history, the leaders have erected sports communication as a cardinal value. Thus, Friday, at the Parc des Princes, the club did not play with its usual colors, but with the fourth white jersey with the Jordan logo. Before, PSG had abandoned the “Daniel Hechter” look for an all-black tunic. The partnership with the basketball player’s brand has swallowed up any own identity: PSG has tied itself to Michael Jordan because, according to the owners, PSG is a global brand that must multiply collaborations to sell jerseys. What does it matter if the historical supporters do not find the codes. At least the executives backed down on the removal of the players’ entrance anthem: Phil Collins resisted DJ Snake.
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What remains of the club’s DNA? Abroad, the owners pass, but the values and the DNA remain. If Qatar were to leave the capital after the November World Cup? Beyond the brilliant successes, will many supporters regret them? It is permissible to doubt it.