PSG have spent big, but that spending hasn’t translated into winning international hardware.
Two weeks ago at Old Trafford Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) felt that their European jinx was over. A 2-0 victory on the road against Manchester United in the first leg of the Champions Final 16 seemed to say that in spades.
But it was not to be! On Wednesday, ManU rolled into Paris to take a 3-1 win and–more importantly–the series victory on away-goals. ManU– not PSG–will participate in the last eight.
For ManU, it was the first time in Champions history that a team has gone through to the last eight after suffering a 2-0 home loss.
United’s third and final goal–the series clincher–was given through video replay, scored on a penalty spot that was first thought to have hit Presnell Kepempe’s hand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnu4LP1Z1mg&feature=onebox
Yes, PSG was playing without its top player, Neymar Junior, who missed the contest through injury. But this is an experienced side with experienced players–Buffon, Marquinhos, T. Silva, D. Alves, M.Verratti, A. di Maria, J. Draxler, and K. Mbappe.
And in our era where massive cash injections propel certain teams and limit the reach of others, PSG has been a force to be reckoned with as a team that has acquired the signatures of many stars–
George Weah, who is the only African player to have won the world footballer of the year award (Ballon d’Or).
Ronaldinho, who has gone on two consecutive accolades as that one of Weah
David Beckham, who was a specialist in free-kick taking and has garnered Champions League medals at both United and Real Madrid
Jay-jay Okocha, who was named Nigerian Footballer of the year on seven occasions
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has won at least two pieces of silverware with each team he has played for
Neymar Junior, for whom they paid USD 268 million to activate his release clause from Barcelona, and
Kylian Mbappe, a 19-year-old sensation who just won the World Cup with France and was named the young player of the tournament.
But all that money and all those stars haven’t translated into Champions League success. For PSG, an old saying applies: “A game of football is won on the field of play and not on paper.”
A team of that caliber could and should have won internationally, especially when teams with less glitz have won internationally. But PSG have continuously failed, and dismally so, too.
Perhaps that says PSG are not cut-out for European success.
