The French football is at the party. In the champions League, Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique lyonnais have both secured their place for the long-awaited “Final 8” of the champions League. First on the rope, the men of Thomas Tuchel will open the ball, Wednesday, 12 August, in the face of the Atalanta Bergamo (one meeting to be followed live on the site of the Point). Jérôme Rothen, consultant and sports commentator, will be one of the privileged witnesses of this competition new-look. He gives us his first impressions.
In season new, unique format. For the first time in the history of the C1, the quarter-finals of the competition will compete in a match seconds after Jérôme Rothen, initially reluctant to this format, the challenge proves to be ” exciting “. “Anything can happen in the Final 8. One has the impression that this levels the values of the clubs, since, in fact, it is very open for all the participants. That is the charm of football on a match, it can happen unbelievable things, ” added the former French international. But the sports consultant tempers his enthusiasm : “For me, the Champions League, they are confrontations round-trip with games sick. In the past year, with the storylines of the games back, reversals of situation… we feasted ! It is this format that I prefer. “
PSG, beware of the trap
the draw of the “Final 8” of the champions League, the Parisians have inherited one of the best draws possible. First, because they will play against Atalanta Bergamo. Facing the triple champion of France title, the Italian club will play the first quarter final of its history. Well thus far the ogre’s european. Second, because the paris club is to be found in the best part of the table as possible, avoiding the fact Manchester City, Bayern Munich or FC Barcelona. If the golf course can seem to be affordable for the armada paris (Atalanta, and then RB Leipzig or Atletico Madrid in the semi-final), the men of Thomas Tuchel know – disillusion with the support, they will have to stay vigilant. The club in northern Italy for example, although inexperienced at this stage of the competition, remains the best attack of the calcio (the Italian league) this season with 98 goals.
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“the part of The table of the PSG is totally a trap,” cautions Jerome Rothen. “It would be a huge bullshit to see them already in the final. Especially as PSG, after three terrible disappointments experienced in recent years, cannot afford to believe favorite. They must be afraid of the Atalanta Bergamo to be able to excel and achieve a real performance “. Indeed, the objective of the club is clear : raise finally the Cup with the big ears. But, like every year, the Paris Saint-Germain must cope with the curse of the wounded.
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” today, PSG is still in the hard with injuries or players that are not in the best state of form. But I prefer to see the positive. It was a Neymar Jr. to the best of his talent and with a state of mind very different from that of the past. “Head of gondola of the parisian club, Neymar Jr., recruited in the summer of 2017 for 222 million euros, must finally shine at Paris Saint-Germain on the european scene. “This is a player incredible. When he touches the ball, it is fantastic. It is a safe bet. Is Neymar Jr. any single will be able to take the PSG in the final of C1 ? No ! But PSG need a large Neymar Jr. to win the champions League. You win this competition with the big players, and Neymar Jr. is one of them. Paris must at all costs fight to keep them in the workforce. “
Lyon to a new feat ?
By eliminating the Juventus Turin of Cristiano Ronaldo from the knockout stages of the champions League (1-0, 2-1), Olympique lyonnais has sent a strong signal on the european scene. It will have to rely on Memphis Depay and others – capable of great games against great teams – to conclude this edition 2019-2020. “It is a feat of sounding for the French football that has made the” OL, welcomes Jérôme Rothen. “To beat Juve, this is a first for a club habs in the history of the European Cup. In the light of the season of lyon as a whole and of the difficulties traversed by the club, it is a real performance getting to climb in the quarterfinals of C1. “
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But the consultant knows, the task looks particularly daunting to the men of Rudi Garcia, drowned among very large stables in europe. The Gons battle and Manchester City in the quarters, before facing the winner of the confrontation between Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona, in the event of qualification for the last four. A part of table particularly complicated. “Bayern Munich is my favorite of this edition. They release a collective force incredible, led by a talented coach, Hans-Dieter Flick. In attack, Robert Lewandoski is clearly above the fray. If not, I think at Manchester City. But, to my mind, the Paris Saint-Germain is not yet in the category of favorites. “Yet, in football and in the Champions League in particular, history has often proved, this is not always the favourite who wins.
RMC Sport, special device
On Wednesday, the champions League will be one to watch in entirety and exclusivity on RMC Sport. For the occasion, the chain has put in place a special device throughout the final phase. Each evening of game from 20 hours (19: 30 in the matches of the French clubs) and until midnight, the show Champions Area, presented by Jean-Baptiste Stock with Emmanuel Petit, Laure Lepailleur, Daniel Riolo, Jean-Louis Tourre and the ambassadors of the football european, Fred Hermel (Spain), Johann-Hook (Italy), Julien Laurens (England) and Polo Breitner (Germany) will be back in the live on RMC Sport 1.
Two pairs of shock will be to the comments of the meetings : John Rességuié-Jérôme Rothen, Jérôme Groove-Éric Di Meco. While in the edge of the field, we find the indefatigable Mohamed Bouhafsi. Finally, three special broadcasts the UEFA Champions League will also take place live on RMC Sport 1, Sunday 9, Thursday 20 and Saturday 22 August, the eve of the final of the UEFA Champions League 2019-2020. Now, place in the competition !
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champions League : learn all about the ” Final 8 “
