PSG Celebrations Put on Hold Amidst Turmoil

Paris Saint-Germain's potential ninth title in 11 seasons should be a cause for joy, but the atmosphere at the Parc des Princes is far from jubilant

In their recent victory over Ajaccio, a peculiar ambiance pervaded the stadium. Lionel Messi returned to the team after his controversial unapproved trip to Saudi Arabia. However, a hardcore ultra-fan group boycotted the match, and some supporters have not forgiven Messi for his misstep. The Argentine faced jeers from a section of the crowd whenever he touched the ball, yet another group of spectators drowned out the negativity with applause, resulting in an exceedingly strange atmosphere.

"Leo didn't let it affect him; he remained focused and gave his all," commented PSG manager Christophe Galtier during an interview with the Ligue 1 Show on beIN SPORTS. "There were jeers, yes, but there was also plenty of applause whenever he completed a pass or dribbled past an opponent."

Meanwhile, Neymar, whose own future at the club is uncertain, attended the game shortly after encountering a group of supposed supporters who demanded an end to his Parisian journey.

On the field, Neymar's teammates provided reassurance with a resounding 5-0 victory following three losses in their last four home matches. This triumph followed a more convincing performance against Troyes, contrasting with uninspired showings against Angers and Lorient.

"I believe these players have the desire to be champions; they are competitors," explained Galtier. "Over the past two weeks, I have witnessed great focus and determination. It all manifested in that performance."

Aside from securing their first clean sheet at home since January, PSG achieved their best result since the World Cup break.

At the heart of their success was Kylian Mbappé, who leads the scoring charts with 26 goals and is on track to match Jean-Pierre Papin as the second player to win the golden boot for five consecutive seasons.

"Like the rest of the team, he aims to help the club secure an 11th title while pursuing his personal goals," acknowledged Galtier. "He understands that there are other players capable of scoring in this league, and he is determined to be the top scorer for a fifth consecutive year. It's a remarkable achievement for him and for us."

Although the current situation remains tense, with an impending summer of significant changes, PSG only needs to hold on in their remaining three games. Encouragingly, in their previous encounters with these three opponents - Auxerre, Strasbourg, and Clermont - Mbappé and his teammates scored a total of 13 goals.

The title is well within their reach, but tranquility and harmony still seem distant aspirations.