PSG and the presentation of the champion trophy – The loneliness of Galtier, the bronca for Messi: Paris, a title under boos

Could it end otherwise? At the end of a chaotic season, punctuated by crises of all kinds, and electric since January, the Parc des Princes sanctioned its proteges and spoiled the celebrations of an 11th title of champion of France, however historic. The gap has continued to widen since the elimination against Bayern between the players and their supporters.

The presentation of the trophy was only the epilogue of this divorce and it turned into a huge fiasco. The Qataris, so attached to the image reflected by their club, had to tense up in the grandstand. Of course the dramatic situation in which Sergio Rico finds himself forced his teammates, concerned about the health of the Spanish goalkeeper, to contain their joy.

“The most important was the tribute to Sergiocommented Kylian Mbappé on Prime Video. It’s been worrying us all week, we’re all affected, it’s an extremely serious situation” The players did not have the heart to celebrate and the atmosphere was in any case not as light as must be that of the evenings of celebration. But the defeat against Clermont (2-3) a completely resigned team added salt to the wounds.

The stadium had decided to do battle anyway for the last outing of the year. And as soon as the team composition was announced, Lionel Messi was heavily whistled. While the PSG had recorded his departure before the meeting, the stadium reserved a spicy farewell for the one who embodies, in his eyes, the fiasco season of the Parisians.

The image of a Galtier alone in the world

The presentation of the trophy could not take place without intense tensions. Called first by the announcer to join the stage, Christophe Galtier was struck by lightning. Conspired by the stadium, the PSG coach, face closed, went to collect his trophy with the mine of very bad days. He won’t even be in the souvenir photo. When his men immortalized their success on the podium, he slipped out the back door and joined the locker room alone. A terrible image as a symbol of a trying, exhausting season for a coach whose adventure probably ended on Saturday evening.

“We are having a very average second half of the season with seven defeats, I understand that there is disappointment, a lag with the joy of this 11th titlecommented the coach of Paris. We hung on until the end. When there’s love, there can be anger too.” Before specifying that he would meet Luis Campos at the start of the week to take stock of his future.

Messi and the “surreal” whistles

The ceremony, very strange, took place without drum or trumpet in a heavy silence and on the podium where one could read: “Champion 2022”. Clearly, nothing was right. The hearts of the players were heavy, the Park did not want to celebrate its own and everything ended very quickly. It was probably better that way. The fracture is deep. Looking forward to next season…