PSG can make history in French football by winning a second Champions League title. Not sure that will be enough to win over all of France. However, its future opponent will not have all of England behind it either.
Sportingly distant for more than a decade, PSG and Marseille remain tied in the number of Champions League titles won. The two French rivals have one each. Nevertheless, this tie hangs by a thread. At the end of May, the Parisian club can definitively surpass Marseille in Budapest.
Paris would be the double European champion, achieving the feat of triumphing two years in a row. Such a success would increase PSG's popularity on French soil, even if part of the public will continue to hate it.
Some PSG lovers are saddened by such a lack of love, even though their club has displayed a strong game identity for two years. They recall that France was behind Saint-Etienne in 1976 and largely behind Marseille in 1993.
However, they will console themselves by looking toward England. There, Arsenal will not be very supported either. The Guardian claims that the London club has become the most hated in England this year.
A paradox given the Gunners' sporting renaissance. They can aim for a Premier League-Champions League double. But the style of play advocated by Mikel Arteta irritates fans of other teams. They reject "a team that can be boring and relies on defense and set pieces."
It does not help that refereeing decisions have been perceived as favoring Arsenal this season. His Spanish manager is also attacked on a human level. "His agitation on the bench generates irritation," writes The Guardian.
Thus, many English fans would prefer to see PSG become European champions in Budapest and Manchester City retain their national crown. This is not insignificant since City does not have a strong popularity rating across the Channel. They are criticized for their rapid development, which is based solely on colossal, even illegal, financial means.
Will this trend be enough to make Arsenal falter? That is far from certain for a team that has been moving forward in this adversity for several months.
Join the Community
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
