Herbert Hainer, the president of Bayern Munich, spoke to L’Equipe in an interview published this Tuesday. On the eve of the Champions League semi-final second leg (PSG won the first leg 5-4), he was asked to comment on the evolution of the Parisian project in recent years.
Hainer: “Identity is key.”
“I have the utmost respect for what is being done in Paris. What Nasser al-Khelaïfi has achieved is a tremendous success. What particularly impresses me is what they’ve said to each other in recent years: ‘OK, the model with superstars like Neymar or Messi isn’t working, we have to do things differently.’ Paris recruited Luis Enrique, a coach who focuses on young players and who has built a team with which the fans can identify. Identity is key. PSG has reinvented itself; it is now among the elite of world football.”
While Bayern Munich has long criticized the Parisian model, with its star players and high spending, it now also acknowledges that PSG has taken the right path to establish itself among the best. This honesty is commendable and difficult to dispute, even if this more “bling-bling” phase was also part of the club’s development. It helped them progress, achieve impressive results, and gain visibility.
For coach Luis Enrique and the players who have joined in recent years to believe in the possibility of making history, a solid foundation was necessary. Everything hasn’t been perfect, but it’s not a case of throwing it all away either. Let’s not forget that PSG reached the Champions League final in 2020, even if it was in an unusual format.
In any case, Paris has navigated its transition very well and established a clear “identity.” One that appeals to the club’s fans. This is evident in the Parc des Princes, where the fans can’t stop singing because the scoreline isn’t pleasing. The fans know this team fights hard and they love the collective spirit. However, in football, victory is never guaranteed. That will be the case again on Wednesday against Bayern. Disappointment is possible, but we shouldn’t blame PSG if they don’t make it against a very strong Bayern side. In the meantime, we’re mainly hoping for a second consecutive final.
