It was the era of Raí, Lama, Le Guen, Roche, Fournier, Bravo, Guérin, Djorkaeff and Loko… Pioneers, in a way, who won the first European trophy in the history of PSG. On May 8, 1996, in Brussels, against Rapid Vienna, Bruno N'Gotty's goal (29th) propelled Luis Fernandez's team towards its greatest success, this coronation in the Cup.
This Sunday evening in Lisbon, the Parisian club can add a gold line to its record, with the galactic Neymar, Mbappé, Di Maria, by winning the Champions League. This test, precisely, which was refused to the players of the capital a year before their European title, in 1995, beaten by AC Milan (3-0) in the semi-final, launched the epic that followed.
“This defeat was a trigger, said Daniel Bravo. Afterwards, we were no longer afraid of anyone. “The failure in the league on the final days, finished second behind Auxerre, adds to the awareness. "A real commando spirit" is instilled. A week before the final, the group gathered in Hendaye, in the Basque Country, where President Michel Denisot had the idea of bringing in Yannick Noah, icon of France who won, after his personal successes in 1983 at Roland Garros, and in 1991 as Davis Cup captain. The former tennis player turned singer sprinkles the preparation with a good dose of tranquility, reassures the troop united around his coach.
"Luis had already done most of the work," said José Cobos. “It is above all the victory of friendship between a group of players, exults in our columns on the evening of the success captain Bernard Lama. It is the culmination of five years of work, since the club was taken over by Canal +. We have always been serious in the European Cup. We have released a great deal of serenity. "
Scenes of joy and descent of the Champs-Elysées
The warden also says that he became aware of the importance of the mission during the Hendaye internship: “People on the jetty were telling me while I was walking: We must win. "In the quarter-finals, PSG eliminated (3-2) Parma, the club led by the Bulgarian left winger Hristo Stoitchkov, and in the semi-finals, he got rid (2-0) of Deportivo La Coruna, driven by Brazilian playmaker Bebeto. This places the performance of Luis Fernandez's men, three years after the success of Olympique de Marseille in the Champions League, the first for a tricolor club on the European scene.
So here are the Parisians celebrated as the new heroes of blue-white-red football. Their return to the capital is Homeric. The scenes of jubilation multiply. The players who landed in the night make a hook at 4 am by the editorial staff of the Parisian before going down the Champs-Elysées by car later in the day, greeted by the crowd. Arrived at the Parc des Princes, they cannot enter the lawn, invaded by the supporters. They stay in the locker room, sing and dance. Yannick Noah plays the teasers, accompanied by his son Joakim, 12 years old. Mbappé and Neymar dream of the same scenes of joy… with barrier gestures of course.