"The championship also stays at home," laughs Colin Dagba. A good sense of humor in full containment, the young (21 years) side celebrating the title of champion of PSG. A coronation, the ninth in club history and the third in a row, offered on a plate after the final cessation of the season and which will not have been the hardest to win. First and foremost because the players of Thomas Tuchel - a time challenged - did the job, despite a start to the season cahin-caha in the game and the results (defeats against Rennes, Reims and Dijon). Difficulties due to the (very) numerous injuries of some and the suspensions of others. Or the real-fake transfers of some, Neymar Jr then Edinson Cavani. Never mind, PSG was able to find its rhythm and take off in Ligue 1, while advancing in the cups, France and the League, but also and above all in the Champions League. All to dig a ditch of 12 points on the second, Marseille, when the coronavirus has mowed the championship. And again, the Parisians have one game less. Rider alone. All the more alone since the alleged rivals have never been on level. Not the one who would have allowed them to shake the boss.
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So if some are considering challenging the terms of the season stoppage, no one objects to the award of this coronation. Not even Jean-Michel Aulas, OL having taken the trouble to "sincerely congratulate the champions". Even if the Dutch Eredivisie, the first championship to have drawn the curtain, for example chose to finish without a champion. The fact remains that on 28 days of L1, there was no photo. Best attack (75 goals), second best defense (24 goals, tied with Rennes), best goal difference (+51), top scorer (Mbappé, 18 goals), best passer (Di Maria, 14)… All good.
"A different title, in unimaginable circumstances, but which will remain a source of great pride"
Thiago SilvaWith this fishtail issue, coronavirus obliges, this nonetheless remains a title with a “very sweet and bitter taste” at the same time, as described by Ander Herrera. "A different title, in unimaginable circumstances, but one that will remain a source of great pride, promises Thiago Silva, champion of France for the seventh time in eight years in Paris, like Marco Verratti, and who" dedicates this title, to the fans and especially to all the doctors and nursing staff who are fighting against COVID-19 worldwide. They are our players today, fighting to get us back on the field and in the stadiums as soon as possible. ” Nasser Al-Khelaifi had preceded his captain and greeted "the medical staff and other everyday heroes". Elegant.
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And now, place for relaxation for the champions of France? No, rather the wait. And it is not the possible holding of the finals of the Coupe de France and the League in early August, respectively against Saint-Etienne and Lyon, which will mobilize the attention of Parisians. It is indeed towards Nyon and the Swiss headquarters of UEFA that their gaze will turn in the coming weeks, with the hope of an announcement concerning the resumption of the Champions League cuvée 2019-20. Maybe in August, with a final on August 29. A prospect which, coupled with health concerns, should prompt the club to postpone the festivities planned for its 50th anniversary. Whatever: the priority of priorities is C1. It has always been since the Qataris took over in 2011. It is more than ever. Even if it means playing ... outside the borders of France. "If it is not possible to play in France, we will play our matches abroad, ensuring the best health security conditions for our players and all our staff," insists "NAK", in a statement sent at RMC . Note that the possible end of the Champions League could be telescoped with the start of Ligue 1, August 22 and 23.
Dortmund, the starting point?
No doubt the players are nevertheless on the same line as their president, them who we had seen transits of happiness after having finally passed the course of the 8th finals, against Dortmund (2-0), on March 11. Their last match to date, in the lunar atmosphere of a Parc des Princes empty inside, boiling outside. "We want to use matches and emotions like that to follow up," admits Tuchel. It was a key game. ” And which could have served as a springboard, when the planets finally seemed to align, with in particular a healthy Neymar. And "Neymar, that changes everything," slips Tuchel. Except that right now, the virus is changing everything. The future will say when it has loosened its grip, to allow Parisians to try to impose theirs on the Europe of football.
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