Paris Saint-Germain finally won the Champions League last week, but the French club’s president could not resist making a dig at former player Kylian Mbappe in the celebrations
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has made a fresh dig at Kylian Mbappe in the wake of his side’s Champions League win. The French side hammered Inter Milan in last week’s final to lift the European Cup for the first time.
It came a year after superstar Mbappe opted to leave the Parc des Princes for Real Madrid on a free transfer. Mbappe’s decision infuriated Al-Khelaifi, with the France captain insisting he was moving to the Bernabeu in the hope of winning the game’s biggest trophies.
But Los Blancos have ended the season trophyless, besides the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. PSG meanwhile have claimed the treble, romping to the Ligue 1 title, lifting the Coupe de France and now finally winning the Champions League.
The tensions between Mbappe and his former club are still bubbling away, even as PSG celebrate their successful season. Al-Khelaifi has brought those tensions to the surface once again.
The Qatari has also taken aim at fans of the Premier League, who have frequently branded Ligue 1 a ‘farmer’s league’ due to PSG’s dominance. Al-Khelaifi highlighted the fact PSG had beaten four English teams on their way to being crowned European champions.
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“It’s easier to score goals in La Liga than in Ligue 1,” Al-Khelaïfi told Al-Kass Sports. “Luis Enrique proudly represented Ligue 1 and defended it against Premier League fans who called it the Farmers League.
“We ended up beating Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal in the Champions League this season. Nobody thought we would win the title. We approached the Champions League step by step.
“The match at Anfield gave us confidence. Luis Enrique told me before the match against Arsenal that we would win the Champions League. I was delighted with every goal in the final.
“I could hardly believe the 5-0 victory against Inter. This club has become a source of pride for Qatar and France around the world. After this incredible achievement, the club is now profitable.”
Al-Khelaifi’s comments come after Mbappe insisted he holds no bitterness towards PSG for their win. Instead, the France captain hailed Luis Enrique’s side, branding them the ‘best in Europe’.
“Did I leave too soon? No,” Mbappe said on Saturday. “My story was over, it had to end. No bitterness, I had reached the end of the road. I would have tried anything. It was just fate that meant it had to happen without me.
“I was happy, they deserve it, they’ve been through so much trouble, I’ve been through that too. They were the best team in Europe. I don’t remember seeing a 5-0. It’s 100% deserved, they’re becoming the team everyone wants to beat.
“A blank season? Are you sure? We won two titles. That’s the importance of words. We missed out on important titles. This year has been enriching. PSG winning the Champions League without me, it doesn’t affect me. It’s a good thing. I think that in a career we all have challenges. I’m a little more in the eye of the storm, it’s good.”
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