PSG's players relieved to finally seal title
Paris Saint-Germain players sounded just as relieved as they were happy after clinching the club's first French title in 19 years on Sunday thanks to a 1-0 victory at Olympique Lyon.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/itQX9ptmeoMQDimWEUcTFk.jpg)
"God knows how long our journey had been," forward Jeremy Menez, who scored the winner, told French TV channel Canal Plus. "It has been a great season and tonight we got our reward."
Right-back Christophe Jallet, the only player in Sunday's starting lineup at the club when Qatari investors QSI took over two years ago, broke down in tears after the final whistle.
"We had to fight throughout the season. We experienced some hard times. We're very happy to win this title together and we'll celebrate it the right way," he said.
Big-spending PSG, who were expected to dominate Ligue 1, showed signs of nerves in recent weeks, collecting four red cards in two games and failing to beat lowly Valenciennes in Paris last weekend.
"We knew we were close but it was hard," said goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, who was serving the second of a two-game ban on Sunday.
"It's the first title for many of us. We hope it's just the first of many," added Sirigu, who joined from unfancied Italian side Palermo two years ago.
Sunday's victory gave PSG a seven-point lead over second-placed Olympique Marseille with two games to play.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
"It's a relief," said midfielder Blaise Matuidi. "The truth is that it has not been easy. We were expected [to win the league]. The title was our goal. We did it."
"I'm so pleased to be part of this team, with great players like Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] and Thiago Silva," added the France international, named on a four-man short-list for the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award with the two former AC Milan players.
Only Ligue 1 leading scorer Ibrahimovic, the first player to net 27 goals in a season since Jean-Pierre Papin during the 1991/92 campaign, did not appear in the mood to celebrate.
Ancelotti told a news conference the Sweden striker was frustrated at being summoned to anti-doping tests while the rest of the squad basked in the glory of winning the title.
Ibrahimovic will, however, be able to celebrate on Monday when the players are due to be greeted by fans at the Trocadero place, near the Champs-Elysees, where they will be handed the French league trophy for the first time since 1994.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack