The Champions League semi-final itself was underwhelming, with PSG streaking to a facile 3-0 win over Red Bull Leipzig.
But so too was the occasion, and more so the teams involved for RTÉ pundit Richie Sadlier. Speaking prior to kick-off, the Dubliner explained the debatable morals that fund and run both clubs and left viewers with no doubt about the questionable route which football has been heading down for some time.
“Theses teams are very unpopular for very understandable reasons,” he began.
“One way of looking at Leipzig is you know ‘young manager, energetic style of football, lovely story, they’ve come from nowhere in a very short period of time.
“But they’ve whatever way you want to look at it, sidestepped or trampled over the membership rules that are treated very seriously in German football. So the importance having a voice in the club, it’s not considered here so everyone in Germany is wishing them failure because if this model does well ‘it’s who’s going to follow them. It’s basically a marketing strategy for a drinks brand, that’s what this club exists as.
“And PSG, far worse, they’re run by a regime which faces allegations of anything from torturing journalists to imprisoning gay people – a host of other human rights issues.
“So if you approach a game of football as a vindication or a validation of the owners or of the club…maybe this is not the game for you.”
"Everybody in Germany is wishing them failure.
"And PSG, far worse."
Richie Sadlier with some home truths about why this was one of the most underwhelming Champions League semi-final ties of all-time 👏pic.twitter.com/9rMNGUcg8q
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) August 18, 2020
Many will be able to separate the team and the management from the brand and the backroom as they celebrate the wonder of sport itself however.
On the field, the genius was provided by Neymar and Angel Di Maria as they inspired the French side to their first ever Champions League final.
Absolute filth from Neymar and Di Maria 🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/6CMe417fK6
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) August 18, 2020
