The crazy euphoria observed Wednesday in the secrecy of the PSG locker room has now subsided. The incredible final reversal against Atalanta Bergamo (2-1) raised the temperature to peaks rarely reached. Since then, the traces of the water battles have dried, the songs to the glory of Choupo-Moting are silent. PSG have switched to their semi-final. All eyes are now on Tuesday’s game against Leipzig and no one dares to project beyond that. “We do not think about the rest, we are only focused on Leipzig, slips Ander Herrera. This is our goal and we would be making a very big mistake if we think about the rest. “
What the PSG players have not forgotten, however, is the attitude and the look of Neymar in the locker room of the Luz stadium. On his arrival after receiving the man of the match trophy, the Brazilian went around the room to clap each player’s hand. His metallic gaze, almost cold in the middle of the furnace, said more than any speech. We read the determination, the feeling of power that grew little by little in this group. As if he realized that difficulty could give rise to the most beautiful emotions, the most resounding exploits. Ander Herrera confirms this, “something special happened after Dortmund”. Since then, Paris has charted its course.
That evening, the Parisians had celebrated the qualification from the corridors of the Parc des Princes with the thousands of supporters who came to brave the camera at the foot of the Auteuil stand. Other smoke, less numerous, were still out on their return to Myriad hotel in Lisbon on Wednesday evening. Their only contact with the rare fans present in the Portuguese capital. Enough to perceive the enthusiasm and the hopes that their journey generates.
A breath that Neymar appreciates feeling every time he has to get off the PSG bus. The star always comes out last and relishes the clamor. A booster shot in the isolation imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We must be strong in our heads”
“The players are really in their bubble, they are looking for a lot of concentration and have cut a lot with the outside world, slips a relative of a member of the workforce. No one imagines returning to France before August 24. But there is good humor. It’s almost the vibe of a preseason camp with the focus of the Champions League. “
At the heart of the gigantic hotel overlooking the Tagus with a breathtaking view of the Vasco-de-Gamma bridge, the Parisian delegation is alone. No visit of families and relatives is possible. So the players spend the time with each other, often on the 17th floor where most of them have their rooms. The atmosphere is joyful. Sometimes schoolboy like captain Thiago Silva who had fun hiding to give Neymar a hell of a scare under the hilarious looks of his teammates. Ander Herrera who admits spending a lot of time with his compatriot Juan Bernat watching the series “I am a killer” recognizes that the days are sometimes a bit long: “But we have to be strong in our heads”.
Calm and confidence
The Spaniard celebrated his 31st birthday with his teammates the day after Presnel Kimpembe’s birthday. With each time a simple cake with a small candle. The party and its excesses, the Parisians hope that they will be for later. Especially since these short celebrations took place at the end of a meal during which the Parisian group observed the victory of Leipzig over Atlético de Madrid (2-1) and the correction inflicted by Bayern on Barcelona (8-2). What to stay focused on the objectives. The rout of the former executioner of PSG surprised but it was also the quality of the German game that impressed the Parisian players.
We are far from the inferiority complex. Like a Kylian Mbappé, reassured by his right ankle, Paris displays its calm and confidence. A quiet force that is obvious at the Sporting training center where PSG has been doing its sessions since its arrival in the Portuguese capital. The staff is very satisfied with the seriousness and the involvement of the entire workforce. Each one puts his stone to the building. Until the end, some want to convince Thomas Tuchel to trust them. Paris made a pact after Dortmund, it has also become “a dream” in the words of Ander Herrera. The one to go and win the most beautiful trophies. On this occasion, the PSG does not advance masked.
