Each generation has its memories of fiery European journeys.
From the finals of the Stade de Reims in 1956 and 1959, to that of the Greens in 1976, to which will be succeeded the exploits of Bastia, Nantes, Sochaux, Bordeaux, Lens, Marseille, Paris, Monaco or Lyon: the European adventures of French clubs have aroused emotions at the rate of stunning matches and intense clashes like that of PSG against Bayern.
On the eve of the return match, Jérôme Alonzo, the former Parisian goalkeeper, had slipped in this sentence: “This course is like an epic.
It's only a quarter and I have the impression that they have taken the hearts of many French people.
“The day after qualifying, the consultant for the L'Equipe Channel, clarified his thoughts.
“I meant to say that it smelled of the epic,” he says.
In fact, it may be an epic in progress, but we don't know that yet.
"
The former guardian explains: “There are the ingredients to experience an epic, that's for sure.
The dramaturgy and the fact that you pass close to the disaster, the Munich table with the empty stadium, the snow, the wind, the 31 shots, the pass from Neymar, the goal from Kylian ... And then, you don't have to do not forget that for a quarter of an hour in Manchester, you died, you may not be leaving the hens!
There is the bar of Edinson (Cavani) and the opportunity of Martial (
Editor's note: in front of goal, he hit above
) ... When you get out of that and after you eliminate Barça, then Bayern , yes, for now, you tick the boxes.
However, Alonzo recalls that "if you lose in the half, there will be nothing left".
A “not yet exceptional” season
And he is not the only one to put forward this idea.
Thus, Bernard Pivot, the writer and journalist passionate about football, underlines: “PSG achieved two remarkable performances this year and it's great.
But, at the same time, we must not use big words yet.
You shouldn't use expressions like
epic
or
fantasy ride at all
, because it's way too early!
They are only halfway through, let me remind you.
They still have two opponents to tame, perhaps even better than those they have just eliminated.
An epic that would end in 15 days is no longer an epic!
If Ulysses had been shipwrecked and died in the middle of
The Odyssey
, we would talk less about it today!
So praise them, praise them, kiss them, but don't overwhelm them with final words!
"
From the height of his experience, Alain Giresse, the former midfielder and coach of PSG, shares Bernard Pivot's point of view.
“It's not now that we stop everything and say:
we're happy, period!
he says.
We're on our way there.
In order for this season to take on a particular and precise dimension, it is inevitably necessary to qualify for the final.
And the supreme is still the title.
It's a feat to beat Bayern but it's only one game.
No one can be choosy, far from it, but the season is not yet exceptional.
"
