Luis Enrique did not fail to remind us on Tuesday at a press conference: never in its history has PSG managed to obtain qualification for the next round after losing the first leg at home. Like the Parisian coach, convinced that this Tuesday “will be the good day”, the entire delegation of Parisian supporters firmly believed in the feat this Tuesday before the kick-off of the quarter-final return. “Do we believe it? asks Thierry, a forty-year-old who made the trip with his son. I hope you’re kidding, we didn’t come here for nothing. Of course we will! »
Like a good thousand supporters, it was starting from the Plaza de España that the Parisian people came together to raise their “good vibrations”, a good twenty minutes walk further up, in the gigantic complex of the Montjuïc Olympic stadium. “The atmosphere is crazy,” smiles Chedli, a 76-year-old supporter who promises not to have missed a trip since the birth of the club in 1970. I always take great pleasure in coming to support them. I hope it goes well. »
PSG supporters at the Lluís-Companys Olympic stadium. LP / Fred Dugit LP / Fred Dugit
On the way, the songs in praise of the club, others less so, lead to the Barça location where a cloud of smoke bombs raised the temperature and certain supporters from both camps put pressure on them. “Don’t make gestures like that, that’s not how I raised you,” a mother scolds her young 10-year-old son, a bit provocative with the Catalan supporters massed on the sides of the procession. When they arrived near the stadium, the “smartest” among them did not refrain from trying to reach the procession with stones and glass bottles.
Without consequence. And above all, nothing to spoil the enthusiasm. “We had to be there. For PSG, our club. Between us, we talk a lot about the composition because Luis Enrique is used to surprising. We can’t wait to see what he’s going to do,” confides Clément, 26, who came from Hamburg with his friend Laurentino. “If they all put themselves at Vitinha’s level, things will go well,” assures the latter. They will have to put the ingredients into impact. I’m already starting to lose my voice. We want to extinguish Montjuïc. »
Olivier, 61, and his son, Yann, 32, who arrived on Monday, were less proud: “Paris is Paris so we are never safe from a wonderful surprise or a catastrophe,” said the father in his Hechter jersey. The atmosphere will rise, it will be cool. We are going to extinguish the Barcelonans at least in the stadium. We were disappointed with the first leg. » But like almost everyone, he knows that one man tonight has the power to make a difference. “Mbappé was very disappointing in the first leg. We will see if we find the real Mbappé or if we will have the Madrilenian… » Verdict in a few minutes.
