Play a European Cup final, and the most prestigious of all, against Bayern Munich, a former Parisian player knows what that means. Before joining the capital club in 1978, where he played for seven years, Dominique Bathenay had participated in the European epic of the Saint-Etienne Greens in 1976. His strike on the bar, in the final lost ( 0-1) against Bayern, as the then header from Jacques Santini at the same place, had participated in the legend of the square posts. But 44 years later, he does not wait for the PSG final on Sunday as a late revenge.
What does the name of Bayern Munich mean to you?
DOMINIQUE BATHENAY. Obviously, this resonates with me. But above all it is a club that has always been renewed through the generations. It's a very, very big club in Europe. I played it twice in the European Champion Clubs' Cup (Editor's note: the ancestor of the current Champions League) . In the semi-final in 1975 ( Editor's note. 0-0 in the first leg, 2-0 defeat in the return) and in the final in 1976. This club has never succeeded for us…
Was there a French complex with regard to Bayern?
Not just Bayern. It is especially against the German, English and Dutch teams because we were physically dominated. There, we suffered. But Germany was an ogre. His football ruled Europe. The Germans were world and European champions at that time.
Will the 1976 final be one of regrets for life?
No. It was digested. But as we only remember our two strikes on the posts, we now believe that we dominated the whole game. It was not the case. But it was still 44 years ago ...
French football has never taken its revenge on the Germans. Can this be the case on Sunday?
Revenge years apart doesn't mean anything. But I think PSG can afford to win. Bayern is stronger over time because it has been at the top for decades (Editor's note: Bayern will play their 11th C1 final on Sunday and have won the European trophy 5 times) . But this time, victory is largely possible.
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Paris also seems to be inspired by Bayern by leaving places in the governing bodies to former players ...
It is true and it is also why this club is a model of stability because the experience is transmitted there perfectly. This facilitates the training of young people and recruitment. This is how a club spirit is preserved.
However, wouldn't a Parisian victory on Sunday erase the 1976 defeat a bit?
No, it would be first and foremost a great satisfaction. We have been waiting for a successor in Marseille for 27 years. But a victory for PSG would not avenge the defeat of the Greens in 1976. It does not compare. In any case, I believe in a victory for PSG!
