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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Barney Ronay in Budapest

PSG provide perfect illusion with a model of beauty in soft-power project

Nasser al-Khelaifi and Marquinhos lift the Champions League trophy
Nasser al-Khelaifi and Marquinhos lift the Champions League trophy at a ceremony after PSG’s successful defence. Photograph: Christophe Petit-Tesson/AFP/Getty Images

Paris est mythique. There was nothing understated, no obvious shades of faux humilité about the headline in L’Équipe after Paris Saint-Germain had been re-enthroned as Champions League winners on Saturday night. Mythical. Storied. Ultimate. Yeah. But are they, though?

In fairness it would be disappointingly un-Parisian not to consider your champion team the champions of all champions in the moment of victory. Give the people what they want. Play the hits. Nobody needs a polite Parisian waiter. Nobody wants to see an unstylish Parisian estate agent who has taken absolutely no care of his hair, or a Parisian bistro that doesn’t think it’s the VIP boarding lounge for the last arc leaving planet Earth. Hmm. Maybe there’s somewhere else more dismissive around the corner.

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