A week ago, Paris Saint-Germain validated its ticket for the 1/4 finals of the UEFA Champions League. At the end of the suspense and a penalty shootout marked by a gianluigi donnarumma of the big evenings, the men of Luis Enrique offered the Liverpool scalp, favorite after its pretty championship phase in C1. The champions of France therefore continue the adventure, they who will face Aston Villa in the next round. Impressive, the French club will be the big favorite this time against very tough villans. The first leg will take place on April 9 at the Parc des Princes. The return will take place on April 15 in England.
Nantes was against the postponement of the match
A calendar that does not fully help the Ile -de -France, who were to face FC Nantes during this interval (April 12 or 13). For this reason, the stable chaired by Nasser Al-Khelaïfi asked the LFP to move this meeting in order to be able to best prepare its two matches against the formation of Unai Emery and put the chances on its side to qualify for the 1/2 finals of the tournament. Which made teeth cringe from the canaries. Thirteen Ligue 1 With 27 points on the clock, Antoine Kombouaré's troops are fighting for maintenance, although they currently have 6 lengths ahead of the HAC, the first relegation with 21 units.
At the end of last week, Nantes had therefore opposed PSG's request, considering being disadvantaged. Ouest-France had given the letter sent by the club to the LFP. “As everyone knows, the fight for maintenance in L1 is intense, and we cannot imagine that the LFP comes to affect the equity and integrity of the championship by modifying the sequence of our matches to come. To say yes at the request of PSG would force us to chain 3 games in a week (Rennes, PSG, Toulouse) after being at rest for fifteen days. Unthinkable with regard to the enormous challenges of our end of the season and the financial/organizational consequences of such a postponement (match on weekdays, already sold packs, programmed commercial operations, women's match against OL …). “
A decision that disadvantages the Canaries
Antoine Kombouaré, fatalist, had given a layer at a press conference. “At the start, we do not agree because it is very disabling to play three games in a week, especially when we play the maintenance. But I stopped fighting that is useless. The most important thing would then be to get the derby on Friday (in Rennes, April 18, 30th day) to chain Tuesday (against PSG) and Sunday (against Toulouse, April 27, 31st day of L1). “ Yesterday, the LFP decided in favor of PSG, “Considering the common objective of allowing clubs to be as efficient as possible in the European Cup”. The match against Nantes will therefore take place on April 22. This will force the Canaries to chain several decisive meetings in a few days.
On the side of FC Nantes, we are not necessarily delighted with this outcome. “The club is in front of the fait accompli. It will impact the ticket office and the race for maintenance. It is inequitable, especially since the championship match between the eighth round trip of C1 (Rennes-Psg, 1-4, March 8) was not given ”a source told The team. The journalist of RMC SportDaniel Riolo also reacted to this decision. “Was there a doubt ?? Nantes must not focus on anything so everything is fine … “he posted on X. Ocean press also wrote on the subject. “To be able to focus on his double confrontation in the quarterfinals of the Champions League against Aston Villa, PSG sees his match in Nantes, located between these two games, shifted from the weekend from April 12 to to Tuesday April 22. Too bad for FC Nantes, which will stay two weeks without playing between its trip to Nice on Friday April 4 and the one in Rennes. ”
Only Waldemar Kita is happy
A decision “Unsurprisingly” for regional media. While voices rise in the Nantes camp, President Waldemar Kita, questioned by The teamgo against the tide.“If PSG qualifies for the semi-finals it will be a bit thanks to us, thanks to FC Nantes. I even wish him if I think he doesn't need this to get there. If he goes to the final I hope he will invite me. More generally, it is a good decision of the Board of Directors to help the clubs committed to the European Cup. It does not benefit from us but if it can help PSG … “ This is not the first time that such an puzzle has appeared. Last year, it had already been the case. PSG had asked to shift its match against FC Lorient, initially scheduled for April 14, 2024. The governing body had moved this meeting on April 24 at 7 p.m., so that Paris could focus on its two matches against Barça scheduled for April 10 and 16.
The LFP, which had favored clubs committed to the European Cup, had explained its decision. “The journey of French clubs in European cuts is an absolute priority. All the points scored are fundamental for the UEFA coefficient of France. Football constitutes a national flagship and, through the performance of clubs at European level, it makes it possible to promote France internationally. In this context, the Board of Directors of the LFP decided this Thursday, March 21, to develop the calendar of the three clubs qualified in the quarterfinals of the Champions League (Paris Saint-Germain), Europa League (Olympique de Marseille) and Europa League Conference (LOSC Lille) and thus put them in the best gaps for the quarterfinals. ” This had paid for PSG, qualified against the abutments before falling in the 1/2 final against the BVB. It had not done the business of Lorient, relegated at the end of the season in L2 …
