PSG Hakimi decries neutral venue after Lens win the Trophée
PSG’s Achraf Hakimi voiced frustration on Sunday night after Paris Saint‑Germain fell 1‑0 to RC Lens on the Bollaert stadium turf, with Florian Thauvin scoring shortly after the half‑hour mark and the Parisians reduced to ten men following Antonio’s dismissal at the 39th minute.
Nuno Mendes, the Parisien defender, also saw red in the 87th minute, leaving PSG with nine players on the field. The solitary goal secured the Trophée des champions for Lens, bringing joy to Sang and prompting jubilant celebrations among the Lensois.
Lens triumph amid controversy
Lens fans enjoyed the victory on home ground, a point of contention after the Ligue de Football Professionnel scheduled the match in Lens without equal ticket allocation for both clubs. Collectif Ultras Paris announced a boycott of the Trophée, angered by the perceived imbalance in supporter numbers.
Hakimi condemns lack of neutral conditions
Hakimi told reporters, “Ce n’est pas une excuse, we did everything to win, we controlled the whole match. After that there are situations we cannot control. Coming here, playing on a non‑neutral ground without our supporters… we should have played under the same conditions as Lens.” He added that the atmosphere felt more like a regular Ligue 1 encounter than a neutral‑venue final.
Lens upset forces PSG to widen Ligue 1 title focus
PSG had previously claimed the 2023 Trophée des champions after a 2‑0 win over Toulouse FC at the Parc des Princes, a match relocated from Bangkok due to its cancellation. Achraf Hakimi featured in that victory as a starter for the Paris side.
The debate intensified after the match, with critics arguing that the venue choice undermined the competition’s integrity. Supporters of both clubs expressed disappointment, but the Lensois focused on their triumph while PSG lamented the circumstances.
Hakimi slams LFP decision as Lens upset PSG in trophy clash
The stark contrast between Lens’s celebratory home win and PSG’s grievance over a perceived unfair setting highlights the growing tension surrounding the organization of French domestic finals. Future editions may need to address venue neutrality to prevent similar disputes.