Although Paris Saint-Germain fell 1-0 in the UEFA Champions League final to FC Bayern Munich, there’s a different perception around the club now.
Since the Qatar Sports Investment takeover in 2011, Les Parisiens were always labeled a contender for the European competition. However, with the Ligue 1 champions struggling to get past the Round of 16 and quarter-finals, it’s not sure how many football pundits believed this contender status.
Nonetheless, now with a Champions League final appearance under their belt, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi spoke with the PSG Le Mag (via Canal Supporters) about the new identity the Ligue 1 champions have.
“There will be a before and an after since August 23, 2020, the outlook on our club has changed. We are now definitely perceived as a stronghold of international football, a legitimate and efficient institution of world sport,” Al-Khelaifi said. “As hoped by the huge community of our supporters, we have honored the jersey, the great history, and the spirit of conquest of PSG. Our European journey will have been nourished by our incredible capacity for resilience.”
Al-Khelaifi then discussed the European journey that the capital club. After various heartbreak defeats, he admitted that this run in the Champions League brought smiles to everyone’s faces.
“Several times we have fallen over the past few years. Each time we got up and, by dint of better understanding what we still lacked in order to grow, we ended up finding our way. This path which had never taken Paris Saint-Germain so high,” Al-Khelaifi said.
“This new European horizon has emerged thanks to the extraordinary talent of our players and a staff who has been able to get the best of this group. What a pleasure too, to have seen these millions of smiles light up the faces of our supporters! What a pleasure to have felt all these hearts come together around PSG!”
With the capital club entering their 50th anniversary, Al-Khelaifi believes now more than ever that PSG is on the right track to win their first Champions League trophy.
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