Home
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has picked Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) as the team he wants to face this season in the UEFA Champions League. He said that everyone wanted to see them clash last season, as many said that they were the best teams in Europe.
Laporta wants to face PSG in 2025-26 UEFA Champions League
While speaking to CNN, Laporta said that it was sad that Barca could not qualify and face PSG in the final last year. He hopes to see another side playing 'good football' next season and said:
"Paris Saint-Germain did very well last season. They won the Champion League, they won the French League and at the same time you know they offer good football with a very good coach, and very good players and very good team as well. Unfortunately we couldn't play against them. But it's a football game that is pending for the football world."
"Because I think that we were the two most competitive teams and the two teams in better shape in football last season. We hope that we could play against them this season, in order to know which one is the best, respecting all the other clubs because we'll see maybe appear at another club this season that is playing good football."
"Everybody that likes football said that Barca and PSG were the teams offering the best football in the world. I hope that [we face each other] in the new format of Champion League that is organized by UEFA. I congratulate Aleksander Čeferin as the president of UEFA, he organized a format that is improving the competition." [sic]
Barcelona reached the semifinal of the Champions League last season, but were knocked out by Inter Milan. The Spanish side making it to the final would have seen two-teams going all-out to clinch the European treble last season, as they already clinched the league title and won the domestic cup competition.
Joan Laporta reflects on Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi comparisons
Joan Laporta was asked about the comparisons between Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi, but the Barcelona president was not keen on putting extra baggage on Lamine's shoulder. He said that the two were different players.
"Lamine Yamal is Lamine Yamal, Leo Messi was Leo Messi. Leo Messi has been the best player in the world, and Lamine, I think that in his position nowadays, is the best player in the world."
Barcelona gave the iconic #10 jersey to Lamine Yamal this season after he signed a new deal at the club, keeping him at Camp Nou until 2031.
ADVERTISEMENT
