For years, the wealthy owners of Paris Saint-Germain have done everything they can to make the club from the "Parc des Princes" appealing to the rest of the world, dreaming of a team that everyone admires, that plays beautifully and attractively, and that will make the "Saints'" matches talked about...
Big stars were arriving. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Beckham, Angel of Mary, later the largest Lionel Months, pa Neymar, Killian Mbape has grown into one of the best on the planet... However, there were few who "fell in love" with PSG.
And, when the old stars left, when Mbappe joined Real Madrid, some new kids led by the coaching maestro Louis Enrique, they did everything the guys before them couldn't.
Paris Saint-Germain is not stopping this year, winning on all fronts, and in the Champions League, they deservedly eliminated Liverpool in two matches - the future champions of England, a team that this season could not be threatened by Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Milan, Manchester City...
"It's obvious that Luis Enrique is building something very special there and I want them to continue in this rhythm and win the Champions League," he wrote. Luis Styles from the English "Daily Mail".
Superheroes
What is particularly impressive is the youth of the team from "Princess Park" - Ousmane Dembele who is finally among the best in the world is 27 years old, a maestro from the middle Vitinja 25 Khviča Kvaracheli 24, and a special story is Bradley Barcola (22) Nuno Mendes (22) Joao Neves (20) Vilijan Paćo (23) Dezir Due (19) Varen Zaire-Emery (17)
Even the more experienced ones aren't too old - Gianluigi Donaruma (26) Ashraf Hakimi (26) Markinhos (30)
23,7
is the average age of Paris Saint-Germain - they are the second youngest team in the knockout stages of the Champions League
"Superheroes" dominates the front page of "L'Equipe" and clearly depicts how France experienced the success of the "Saints" and the victory at "Anfield".
The Liverpool captain also paid tribute to his rival.
- It was the best team we played against this year, Luis Enrique really built a top team - he is clear Virgil van Dyck.
Donnarumma - England's nightmare
PSG played an unreal first match, but lost, and then they knew how to survive Liverpool's dangerous attacks at Enfidha, score an important goal in extra time and pose a dangerous threat in it...
However, when this match went to a penalty shootout, many could have predicted the outcome - just because of one man, Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The English remembered him well when he "took" penalties in the final of the 2021 European Championship. Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho i Bukaju Saki - then he demolished "Wembley", one temple of football, and this Tuesday another - "Anfield".
He saved a penalty kick. Darwin Nunez i Curtis Jones and put an end to one of the more beautiful stories in the history of Paris Saint-Germain.
In total, he faced 103 penalties throughout his career, and saved 24. In percentage terms, he had 31,3 percent saves in the Italy jersey, 21 percent in Milan, and 24 percent in PSG.
"Anfield" is no longer scary
"Anfield" has always been a player for Liverpool, his strength even leading the "Reds" to an epic turnaround against Barcelona in 2019, but in recent years that has not been the case.
Of their last seven Champions League knockout stage games at home, Liverpool have won just one - against Villarreal in the 2022 semi-finals.
They drew or lost all the others - with Atletico Madrid (2:3), Real Madrid (0:0 and 2:5), Inter (0:1), Benfica (3:3) and now PSG (0:1).
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