Luis Fernandez is the last PSG coach to have taken the club to the semi-final of the Champions League in 1995. He particularly enjoys seeing two French clubs for the first time in the last four of the C1. A success that he attributes to the good adaptation of the teams to the particular context of this edition.
How to explain this first with two clubs in the semi-finals of the Champions League?
LUIS FERNANDEZ. I hear a lot of comments and speculation that France has stopped their championship and the others haven't. We must stop with that. We can just note that the unprecedented configuration of this Champions League does not necessarily give advantages to those who have resumed before. Lyon and PSG also made a real preparation and played friendly matches. It may not be the same intensity as a competition, but it is not nothing. The five changes also give them a little extra to avoid physical holes. But above all, they have a lot of qualities.
Parisians and Lyonnais may not have dominated in the game, but they had an unwavering mindset, will and commitment. They were very disciplined. It is thanks to their attitude that they qualified. They have adapted to the different conditions of this edition. The competition as we like it, with these round-trip matches, is distorted but hey, we have to accept it. French clubs have shown that they have adapted well and are on top. This does not mean that Ligue 1 has become stronger than the English, Spanish or German leagues. But this proves that there is potential and qualities in French clubs. And with groups that were a bit stronger mentally and psychologically, that made the difference.
Were you surprised by Lyon's performance?
No. They had already achieved a very good match by beating Juventus Turin in the first leg in the 8th. There they were disciplined with a superb state of mind. Playing for each other is the key to beating very big teams because the players have qualities anyway. Guardiola certainly underestimated Lyon and this is a big mistake in football. But it is above all OL who performed a great deal.
You were on the bench when PSG played their last Champions League semi-final. Why did it take so long to get back to it?
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They are finally rewarded. They had this envy in them, this mentality that they perhaps lacked in previous seasons. It's not all about knowing how to play well. The Parisians weren't as domineering as in the past, but it's the result that counts. They were able to turn a bad situation in their favor.
So the biggest difference is mental for Paris after many European failures?
There has been a change in this group. I have the impression that this workforce lives well, accepts each other, shares and wants to live an adventure together. The results don't lie. Against Saint-Etienne and Lyon, Paris plays badly but wins all the same. Against Bergamo, they are not domineering, but come out of it. The group is happy. Maybe something has been tied up during this long period of no competition.
The state of mind is impeccable. In my time, when we reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, the group was well in his head, healthy and serene. And this season, Neymar is remarkable. We feel in him a motivation and a determination to carry the group on his shoulders. He is the real leader of this team. In his eyes and his attitude, we feel him happy. Finally!
Is there an osmosis between the players and Thomas Tuchel?
Difficult to say because we do not live from the inside. But it is obvious that the group meets its expectations. I think Neymar wants to do something for Tuchel. If there was one person in the staff who reached out to him and helped him in times when he was challenged, it is the coach. He put it back in good condition and in good shape. If we have the impression that between Leonardo and Neymar, it is not great love, it is between Neymar and Tuchel.
You are always very popular among Parisian supporters. Do you feel their impatience to win the Champions League?
Yes. Much has been done since the arrival of Qatar. We can not blame much in terms of investment leaders who for their part can be disappointed. The supporters heard the promises, we made them dangle a lot of things with the Champions League. These boys who have followed PSG for all these years deserve to see this team go to the final. They will unfortunately not be able to attend. They will be in front of their televisions, far from the stadium and it will be hard.
I remember our final in Brussels in 1996, our audience was there, magnificent. Making the fans happy and proud is the best part. In recent years, there has been a lot of waiting and a lot of disappointment. I was with the supporters in the procession before the game against Dortmund, I watched these boys. It would be great for them to see their club win the Champions League. They are all looking forward to it. This year may be the right one.