PARIS โ In a triumphant homecoming, Paris Saint-Germainโs players were greeted by a thunderous wave of cheers at the Parc des Princes on Sunday. The team proudly displayed the coveted Champions League trophy to their fervent supporters, who have longed for such glory.
PSGโs remarkable victory, a 5-0 rout of Inter Milan in Munich the night before, was orchestrated by Coach Luis Enrique. He received a rapturous ovation upon entering the stadium, as did Ousmane Dembรฉlรฉ and the rest of the team members, each announced individually onto the field. The 49,000-capacity crowd erupted into chants of โDembรฉlรฉ, Ballon dโOr,โ aspiring for him to claim the distinguished individual honor in soccer.
The eveningโs loudest applause was reserved for Marquinhos, PSGโs long-serving captain. In a spirited display, he walked with club president Nasser Al-Khelaรฏfi with the Champions League trophy held symbolically between them. The celebrations reached a fever pitch as Al-Khelaรฏfi and Dembรฉlรฉ were tossed into the air by their jubilant team, who then completed a lap of honor to mark the clubโs greatest achievement in its 55-year history.
Earlier in the day, PSG fans lined the streets of Paris for a jubilant open-top bus parade. The European club soccer champions arrived in Paris and made their way to the Champs-รlysรฉes, a scene of sporadic violence and clashes with police the previous night. Thousands of officers were deployed to maintain order, mirroring the tight security measures imposed on Saturday, as confirmed by Paris police chief Laurent Nunez.
Fans waved PSG colors, cheering as the team bus arrived, with celebrations officially commencing after 5 p.m. There was an overwhelming roar when Marquinhos lifted the trophy high, passing it among teammates abroad the bus. Coach Enrique joined fans in singing club anthems, while Dembรฉlรฉ interacted warmly with the crowd. The team later met French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron at the รlysรฉe Palace, dressed in PSG attire.
At Parc des Princes, a concert and dramatic light show awaited the fans, who chanted โChampions dโEuropeโ in anticipation. Celebrated former players like Jรฉrรดme Rothen and Bernard Mendy energized the crowd. Rothen humorously remarked on PSGโs achievement of becoming the first French side to clinch two European trophies, a playful jab at rivals Marseille.
Despite the nightโs thrill, the celebrations were marred by incidents. Two people lost their lives, and around 200 were injured during the previous eveningโs revelry. Police reported 294 arrests, alongside vehicles set ablaze near the venue. The joyous occasion turned somber due to isolated violence, despite the majority remaining peaceful, PSG denounced these acts in a statement.
Tragically, a 17-year-old was fatally stabbed in Dax, unrelated to the football celebrations. In Paris, a man died in a scooter accident during the festivities. A police officer, severely injured by fireworks, remains in a medically induced coma.
Despite these events, scenes of overwhelming joy were evident. Near the Place de la Bastille, fans climbed historical monuments, singing and releasing flares in joy. Nunez attributed the disturbances to โagitators more interested in violence than football,โ recalling similar unrest after Franceโs 2018 World Cup win.
This Sunday, however, saw Paris come alive for its champions, with up to 110,000 witnessing PSGโs parade on the historic Champs-รlysรฉes. Central Paris became a pedestrian zone, with its security measures even affecting the ongoing French Open at Roland-Garros. Renowned tennis star Novak Djokovic adapted by traversing on foot, pausing to wave at the exuberant crowd.
Ultimately, Paris was abuzz with PSGโs triumph, marking a memorable chapter in the clubโs history.