He did not necessarily dream of seeing his son do it again in the quarter-final against Atalanta. To lead PSG to victory and its first Champions League. But just to see the club of the capital being crowned for the first time in its history and living, from a distance and by proxy, the most beautiful moment in the sporting life of its protégé. Just Choupo-Moting will not have, like his son Eric Maxim, ended this historic Sunday with a smile. “Paris was not unworthy, but Bayern’s victory is logical, blows the Cameroonian. You have to be objective. “
Just made the choice on Saturday to swallow the 950 km that separate Hamburg from Paris by car. Finally, rather than reaching Portugal on Sunday by plane, it was at Laakam, a Cameroonian restaurant in the 18th arrondissement that Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s father decided to follow the final. His wife, of German nationality, preferred to follow the event in peace, in their home in the Paris region. “Usually, I also prefer to stay quiet to concentrate better,” explains the one part of the restaurant affectionately calls papa. But there was the opportunity. “
A relaxed attitude
Draped in a PSG jersey flocked in the name of his son, Cameroon shorts and a black cap embroidered with a C – “as captain of the Indomitable Lions”, he smiles – it’s “relaxed” that the captain’s father of the Cameroonian selection invests the restaurant. “But I’m going to to relax », He warns in front of the screen which remains desperately black due to a connection problem. Gautier, the owner of the place, calms the assistance by re-establishing the connection. The beautiful evening can begin. At the end of the table, Just agrees with his friend Daniel: “Paris will win 3-1. “
It’s time to shut down the phone “so you don’t be disturbed” and get ready for the feat. Here, the “favorites” are Choupo and Kylian Mbappé, for his Cameroonian origins. “But all the customers are supporters of all the Parisian players, swears Gautier the boss, a Barcelona fan who, this evening does not upset his customers. “
The start of the match took place calmly, until the first incursions of Mbappé and Neymar. “It’s not possible”, plague Just before laughing at the remark of his neighbor at the table: “That one, Toko-Ekambi (Editor’s note: Lyon striker) would have put it! “
This time around, Choupo will not be the hero
Like Just, in the restaurant, everyone notices “that there is a match between the two teams. But success is not at the rendezvous. It is when the debate on possible extensions begins to animate the room that Kingsley Coman places his murderous header. “Come on Paris, it’s time to start,” screams a voice from the back of the restaurant. “But Neymar has to get out, he’s not in it. We must bring in Choupo-Moting ”, then shouts Daniel, Just’s friend.
In his own way, the father of the Cameroonian striker of PSG nods. “Nothing is happening in front,” he said, “something must be changed. “On leaving Coman, the French striker for Bayern, the assistance regains hope. “Here, Paris has won, even launches a client. “A remark which has the gift of annoying Just:” So you know better the level of form of the players than the coach “, thunders the patriarch by cursing the fate when seeing the strike of Marquinhos once again diverted by Neuer.
You have to wait until the 79th minute to see the restaurant regain hope. Eric Maxim Choupo Moting comes into play to applause. “Choupo will score”, we hear. Not this time. After having saved Paris from elimination in the quarterfinals, the Cameroonian will not be the hero of the evening this time. Much to the chagrin of the Cameroonian people and Just Choupo-Moting who did not see his son become European champion.
