Contrasting emotions at either end of Ligue 1 on Saturday. Paris Saint-Germain lifted the trophy for the eighth time in 10 seasons, which sounds impressive but probably isn’t quite the fairytale manager Mauricio Pochettino made it out to be after the game, let’s be honest. Metz, meanwhile, dropped back into the bottom two just at the wrong time after suffering a hiding at the Parc des Princes and will play Ligue 2 football next year. Au revoir, Grenats.
Here’s what some of the men involved had to say after the game in matchday 38’s Ligue 1 Saturday sounds.
Listen to matchday 37’s Sunday sounds here.
PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino:
“I think we’ve made history. A club like Paris Saint-Germain has equalled Saint-Étienne’s record number of French league titles. I think it’s important because, in the end, with time and by winning trophies, it goes down in history, especially at a club like Paris Saint-Germain. I’m happy to finally be able to celebrate winning the league because winning it with four or five games left to play, it was like, “Well, yes, we’ve won it but we can’t really celebrate.” Today we lifted the trophy, I think it was fully deserved. We’ve been the most consistent team in France and our victory needs to be given the credit that it deserves.”
Metz manager Frédéric Antonetti:
“I’ve already talked to you several times about players coming back from injury, I’m not going to repeat myself. Players breaking into the team…I’ve talked a few times about how we should measure success. And success for us is to finish 14th, 13th or 12th, it’s not to be French champions. You need to be able to keep your feet on the ground. But, as I said, it’s only recently that I’ve discovered that we have a big potential fanbase out there and when that potential is there, maybe there’s a future. Maybe there’s a future because that’s what pulls the club along.”
Watch Pochettino and Antonetti’s press conferences here.
PSG winger Ángel Di María, playing his last game for the club:
“I’m really happy to get a goal and an assist in my last game here and to be able to enjoy all this. It’s really nice for me after seven years here, for me and for my family. To be able to leave on such good terms is something I’ll never forget.”
“I’ve been here for a long time, there have been some really important moments in my life. It’s been seven years here in this city, that’s half my career. To leave like this is the best thing that could’ve happened.”
Metz left-back Fali Candé:
“There’s not much we can say at the moment. It’s a shame because I think we have a good team, there’s a place for us in Ligue 1 but life doesn’t end here. Next season, we’ll be back to do our best.”
“We all know the players they (PSG) have, their manager. They’re a really strong team. We did our best but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.”
“There are always things that you can do better. We can improve. But, as I said, we’re going to get some rest and we’ll be back next season.”