Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has released a statement congratulating his team on their 12th Ligue 1 win, the Parisians having been crowned champions following Olympique Lyonnais’ 3-2 win over Monaco this weekend.
Luis Enrique’s side, with an eye on this week’s UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg against Borussia Dortmund, drew 3-3 with relegation-threatened Le Havre AC, all but certain of their league win before Pierre Sage’s Lyon confirmed it on Sunday.
It has been a successful first season for former FC Barcelona and AS Roma coach Enrique, the Spaniard playing a huge part in shifting the club from a culture of stars to a close-knit squad, less characterised by big egos and more by putting themselves at the service of the team.
Upon the departure of Lionel Messi and Neymar last summer, Al-Khelaifi set about hiring a manager to revamp the team and challenge on all fronts, and his search has bore fruit as the decisive month of the season finds the club fighting for a historic treble, with the Dortmund semi-final looming as well as the Coupe de France final with Lyon on May 25th.
The president was effusive in his praise for his team and staff:
“Winning the league is fantastic, but to win it for the 12th time is even more special for all of those connected to Paris Saint-Germain. Congratulations to all the players, to coach Enrique and his staff, to Luis Campos and his department, as well as all the members of the club. Since the beginning of the season, the team is so united. I don’t forget the supporters, who have been extraordinary regardless of the result. We will celebrate this as a family and continue to work hard, match after match, until the last moment of the season.”
The club and its supporters will certainly hope that last moment is on June 1st at Wembley Stadium.
GFFN | Jack McArdle