Lisbon (AFP)
Two "mental" goals in 149 seconds to revive the hope of a long frustrated European epic: PSG, winner in extremis of Atalanta Bergamo (2-1) on Wednesday in Lisbon, gave themselves the right to dream by finally reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League. A click ?
After having stumbled for seven consecutive years on the eighths or the quarters, Paris has shattered this glass ceiling with a stunning scenario. But it will be necessary to confirm next Tuesday in the semi-finals against the winner of the duel between Atlético Madrid and Leipzig, opposed Thursday evening (9:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. GMT) at the José-Alvalade stadium in Lisbon.
In the meantime, from the Lisbon hotel Myriad, base camp of the Parisian club stormed by a hundred fans, to the Parc des Princes, lit by several smoke from delirious ultras supporters, the first post-celebrations match gave an overview of the immense liberation caused by the goals of Marquinhos (90th) and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (90th + 3).
"Insane", ignited Thursday the French sports daily L'Equipe, while Le Parisien evoked a match "stunning!". And the European press followed suit, speaking of a "+ dismantling + in agony" (the Madrid newspaper Marca) or of a "miracle recovery" (the Catalan daily Sport). "Paris SG saved its head at the last minute," summed up Kicker, the German football Bible.
On the day of the club's 50th anniversary, and 25 years after a first foray into the C1 semi-finals in 1995, the Parisians accredited the idea of a psychological milestone at last. As much for the stunning scenario as for the past trials.
- "Nobody believed it except us" -
The words of Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, president of PSG since the arrival of the Qatari owners in 2011, sum up the scope of this first qualification in the semi-finals under his mandate.
"Everyone doubts Paris Saint-Germain, today we proved that we could go further, we made a magnificent scenario. In three or four minutes we changed everything. We need this mentality, this victory to go as far as possible ", he confided to the microphone of RMC Sport.
From the glass ceiling of the quarterfinals between 2013 and 2016, to the curse of the "remoradas" since the nightmare of Barcelona in 2017, the QSI era had indeed known only frustration, disillusion, and humiliation in the Champions League.
And this despite huge investments, the recruitment of several popular coaches and the purchase of two of the best players in the world for more than EUR 400 million: Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. In two magic passes and in the space of two minutes, the two stars have passed the long awaited course for seven years ...
"Nobody believed it except us. Congratulations to the whole group, we went to look for this one," reacted Mbappé, who played 30 decisive minutes while still suffering from an ankle injury. "You don't talk to me about pain! A big thank you to the medical staff for getting me back on my feet," he joked on Twitter.
- "Everything is possible" -
If coach Thomas Tuchel spoke of the fruits of two years' work since his arrival in 2018, this change is also linked to the knockout round against Dortmund behind closed doors and the good humor that reigns in the locker room.
"After Dortmund, I had the impression that the team created an atmosphere together. They all wanted to show that they have quality on a mental level to do great things," Tuchel savored to the press after the meet.
"The last week (of preparation in Faro for three days, Editor's note) was exceptional in terms of the spirit, the atmosphere. A mix between concentration and smile," he said.
With the unexpected Choupo-Moting, usual replacement turned hero for a night, PSG has found the symbol of this positive state of mind.
Now it's time for the semi-final, scheduled for next Tuesday, for which the outlook looks bright with the possible returns as holders of Mbappé, income from injury, and Angel Di Maria, back from suspension.
"We have six days for + Kyky + to improve his abilities, and for Di Maria to come back," said the Parisian coach.
The only downside is the thigh injury of Keylor Navas, the goalkeeper in the three Champions Leagues, and the probable package of Marco Verratti, still injured in the calf. But not enough to start the new faith of Parisians: "We are in the last square, everything is possible", launched Tuchel.
© 2020 AFP