The Hidden Life of PSG Supporters in Marseille Ahead of the Champions League Final
As the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) prepares to take on Inter Milan in the Champions League final on Saturday, May 31, the city’s supporters are bracing themselves for a potentially historic win. But for those living in Marseille, a city steeped in football tradition, the prospect of PSG’s success is not without its challenges.
According to a report by Le Monde, two PSG supporters, Sacha Lucas and Maxime Bernard, have learned to keep a low profile in the city. The pair, both in their 30s, have become friends with a local chef, but their allegiance to PSG has not gone unnoticed.
"Le chef has a message for you: Allez l’OM!" the server joked, referring to the local Olympique de Marseille team. The comment was met with a shrug from Sacha Lucas, a 30-year-old doctor at La Timone hospital, who has lived in Marseille for six years. "We’re used to it," he said with a smile. "Here, I avoid talking football. People are so biased."
Maxime Bernard, a pharmacist who moved to Marseille in 2020, shares his sentiments. "The people here are so close-minded," he said. "It’s hard to discuss football without getting into an argument."
As Le Monde reports, the prospect of PSG winning the Champions League has sparked mixed emotions in Marseille. The city’s residents are eager to see their local team, Olympique de Marseille, reclaim its former glory, but the idea of PSG succeeding where they have failed is not sitting well with everyone.
In 1993, Olympique de Marseille became the first French team to win the Champions League, a feat that has yet to be matched. However, with PSG on the brink of victory, the city’s slogan "A jamais les premiers" (Forever the first) may soon need to be revised. Some journalists at local newspaper La Provence have already begun working on their headline for June 1, in the event of a PSG win: "A Jamais les seconds" (Forever the second).
The tension is palpable in Marseille, where football is a way of life. As Le Monde notes, the city’s residents are fiercely loyal to their team, and the prospect of PSG’s success is being met with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
As the city prepares for the Champions League final, PSG supporters like Sacha Lucas and Maxime Bernard will be keeping a low profile. While they may be eager to celebrate their team’s potential victory, they are also aware of the sensitivities of living in a city with a rich football history.
The Champions League final promises to be an intense and closely watched event, with implications far beyond the football pitch. As Le Monde reports, the city’s residents are bracing themselves for the outcome, and the potential fallout.
In the end, only time will tell if PSG will emerge victorious, and if Marseille will be forced to accept a new reality. One thing is certain, however: the city will be watching with bated breath as the Champions League final unfolds.
The article is based on a report by Le Monde, which provides an in-depth look at the lives of PSG supporters in Marseille ahead of the Champions League final. The report highlights the complexities of football rivalries in France and the challenges faced by supporters living in a city with a rich football history.
