At Paris-Saint-Germain, the red eyes of early spring have nothing to do with seasonal allergies. Since its elimination on March 9 by Real Madrid in the knockout stages of the Champions League, the Parisian football club, which hosts Lorient on Sunday in Ligue 1, has been breathing badly. The symptoms are identified and known. They are the same after each of the European failures recorded in recent years. The cure is yet to be found.
At PSG, the idea that we learn especially in defeat is not valid. In the club of the capital, everything changes – especially the coaches, sometimes the sporting director – but nothing changes in the background. “However, it would be enough to look at how it works elsewhere and do the opposite”attacks Daniel Riolo.
Author of four books on PSG, the influential RMC editorialist highlights a first reform, regularly mentioned but always postponed. “We should already build a workforce that is not a stack of stars, he said. In the short term, it’s effective in selling jerseys and driving marketing, but it doesn’t work. »
Is this speech audible in Doha, the seat of the club’s main shareholder since 2011 and where the Emir of Qatar, Tamim ben Hamad Al-Thani, is credited with the desire to dictate sports policy? “For PSG to question itself, the Emir would have to recognize its mistakes”points Raphaël Le Magoariec, doctoral student at the University of Tours, who has been working for ten years on sports issues in the Arabian Peninsula.
During various interviews conducted by the researcher, certain coaches or technical executives based in Qatar confided to him their doubts about the Parisian model. “To sum up, these people were telling me: “If they win the Champions League like that, they can play the lotto behind.” »
PSG almost ticked the right numbers, with their 2020 final lost to Bayern Munich, in the particular context of an eight-team final phase in Lisbon due to the health crisis. “As they almost did, Nasser thinks that with marginal corrections, it can pass”abounds Daniel Riolo.
“Nasser” irremovable
“Nasser” is Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, irremovable president of the club since 2011. After Madrid’s disappointment, the Emir of Qatar summoned his friend and tennis partner. Despite this sporting snub and his troubles with the Swiss justice system in a supposed corruption case, Mr.-Al-Khelaïfi still enjoys the confidence of the palace.
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