PSG aim to rule Europe with €1bn brand
PSG have gone 15 games unbeaten since a surprise cup defeat by Montpellier in January, and in the Champions League a 3-1 advantage from the home leg almost always guarantees progress. But then again, if you are looking for omens, the only two matches when a 3-1 lead has been overturned have both involved Chelsea. In 2000 they went down 5-1 in Barcelona, in 2012 they went through 4-1 against Napoli: both matches went to extra time.
PSG are on the brink of retaining their French league title, but this game is the big one, bigger than it is for Chelsea. For a major club they have a surprisingly brief past — they were only founded in 1970 — and their only European trophy is the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1996, unless you count the Intertoto. They were set up to be the sporting flagship for the capital city, and promoted and subsidised as such, but for years they were in the shadow of Marseille and then Lyon, known for the warring factions among their fans as much as cup successes.
Since the Qatar Investment Authority took over three years ago, however, they have become a flagship for a state as well. Paris has never been a ‘football city’ until now — certainly not compared to other major European capitals — and the transformation has been total. With a population of 12 million and no rival club for miles, this is a colossal marketing opportunity for the Qatari authorities, supported by the Al Jazeera sports network’s huge investment in French TV rights.
“We have a very clear vision,” explained PSG’s Qatari president Nasser al-Khelaifi in an interview with the Financial Times. “In five years, we want to be one of the best clubs in Europe and to win the Champions League. And our brand to be worth €1bn. And we will be there.”
In the old days the club would gratefully receive a €5m subsidy from the Mayor, now their revenues are set to approach €500m, of which an estimated €200m comes from the Qatar Tourism Authority.
“If there was one sports property on earth to take over two and a half years ago, it was PSG,” says Jean-Claude Blanc, their director-general, who joined the club from Juventus.
“We represent Paris, France and Qatar,” says Zlatan Ibrahimovic, their hitman-in-chief, who was previously at Milan.
The irony of this transformation is that PSG have virtually eclipsed Juventus and Milan, and they have done so by taking a bunch of Serie A’s finest. No fewer than 10 of PSG’s squad were previously at Italian clubs. Ibrahimovic is out injured but theattack is formidable, with the speed and guile of Edinson Cavani andEzequiel Lavezzi and replacementsof the quality of Javier Pastore and Jeremy Menez, plus Brazilian winger Lucas Moura.
Lavezzi in particular has been itching for the chance to avenge his traumatic defeat with Napoli at Stamford Bridge. There has been talk of Lavezzi missing Naples and of a possible return to Italy but the prospects of Champions League glory have put an end to that. The added incentive is that he could still make the Argentina squad for the World Cup, even if he is competing with players such as Leo Messi, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez.
PSG’s attackers catch the eye, but their strength further back — especially the two Thiagos, Silva and Motta — has been just as important this season. Both have the experience and steadiness that Napoli lacked two years ago when Chelsea overhauled them.
If the statistics and the odds favour Paris, Chelsea have a tradition of home-leg comebacks. Over the years they have been in this situation in 15 games and won 12 of them, overcoming a two-goal deficit on nine occasions. Their one defeat in those games came four years ago, 1-0 against an Inter Milan side managed by Mourinho. The scorer was Samuel Eto’o.
