The image is beautiful and symbolizes the state of mind that reigns in the Parisian wardrobe. Elected man of the match, Neymar offered his trophy to Eric Choupo-Moting, his teammate, author of the goal of the Parisian victory against Atalanta (2-1), real hero of the evening.
Entered into play in the 79th minute in place of a transparent Mauro Icardi, the Cameroonian international worked to throw himself into the penalty area following a cross from Kylian Mbappé to register the liberating goal in the heart additional time (90th + 3). “When I got home, I said to myself: It is not possible to return to Paris with this team , he tells the microphone of RMC. I gave everything, as I gave everything during the internship. I know Kylian, I know his speed and when he crosses I know the ball is going to come. "
This is how Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting enters the history of PSG. He propelled the winning ball into the net on the night of the club's 50th anniversary. “In the past, there were games in the opposite scenario, continues the striker. But there, we did not lose hope or confidence. Neymar had an extraordinary match. In the end we had chances, we deserved this victory. "
"We must talk about him"
This adventure was impossible to imagine at the beginning of June. At the time of the resumption of training, after three months of health break caused by the coronavirus, “Choupo” was not even to find his way back to the Loges camp in Saint-Germain-en-Laye (Yvelines). His whole clan expected to conclude the contract signed two years ago, during a free transfer after a lease ended in Stoke City (England). But the departure of Edinson Cavani, who refused an extension of two more months, pushed the sports management to offer a few more weeks to his Cameroonian striker, born in Germany 31 years ago.
As is the case since his arrival in the capital, a transaction concluded by Antero Henrique after the transfer of Thilo Kehrer, with whom Choupo-Moting shares the same agent, the great goalscorer of 1.91 m continued to display his smile within the group. Appreciated by all, he did not give up in training, as confirmed by his teammate Ander Herrera. “We must talk about him, proclaims the Spanish community. He will finish his contract in three weeks to help this team. He does the workouts thoroughly as if they were the last. This is the symbol of the atmosphere in the team ”.
Luck is no stranger to this goal of Choupo-Moting. How bad luck had hitherto martyred him. Since April 2019 and a surreal action of the right-hander in front of the goal against Strasbourg, Choupo-Moting was laughed at by many. He never flinched, assuming this failure and lugging his smile in front of the press. With this second career goal in the Champions League, but certainly the most important, he will be able to display his radiant face for some time to come.