PSG are better placed than ever to satisfy European obsession

PSG’s dumbfounding defeat to Manchester United in the last16 of the Champions League last season was among the worst moments in the club’s 50-year history. There is fierce recent competition for that accolade, however, with the 6-1 defeat at Camp Nou in 2017 perhaps even more difficult to stomach. Things are looking better this time around though. As the club look forward to a last-16 tie with Borussia Dortmund, they are better placed than ever before to reach the promised land.

Neymar’s birthday is probably circled in bold red pen on every PSG fan’s calendar. Every year since he arrived at the club his birthday party has been quite the event. The lavish, 300-guest, late-night affair – which usually arrives in the middle of a busy run of games – provides an opportunity for the often fragile relationships between PSG players, coaches and officials to become ever more strained, while also attracting criticism and unwanted attention. This year, coach Thomas Tuchel, sporting director Leonardo and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi declined to attend given that PSG were playing Nantes in the league less than 48 hours after the soirée began. “It gives the impression that we are not 100% focused and professional,” Tuchel explained. However, this year’s party became a positive story for PSG. Around midnight Neymar reportedly delivered a speech, saying: “For the first time, I am entirely happy in Paris,” and that he wants to “do everything I can alongside my teammates to win everything this year”.