Paris Saint-Germain's Journey: Chasing the Champions League Dream
It Was What It Was : The Football History Podcast
The Overlap
4.9 • 667 Ratings
🗓️ 30 May 2025
⏱️ 53 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Welcome to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast.
In this episode, Jonathan and Rob explore the history of Paris Saint-Germain ahead of their Champions League final against Inter Milan.
Join us as we uncover the intriguing journey of PSG - and their transformation from a club with little history to a European powerhouse. Rob and Jonathan explore the significant matches, the controversial ownership and the club's elusive quest for Champions League glory.
For more build-up to the Champions League Final - listen to our episode on Inter Milan - The Birth of the Catenaccio - released earlier this week.
00:00 Introduction to the Football History Podcast
01:08 PSG's Humble Beginnings
02:59 The Formation of PSG
04:30 Challenges and Controversies
06:53 The Role of Media and Public Support
08:48 The Birth of Paris Saint-Germain
11:10 The Struggle for Identity
14:38 The Rise of PSG
20:12 Fashion and Football: The Daniel Hechter Era
25:27 Financial Misconduct in French Football
26:15 PSG's Rise in the 1980s
27:20 Early European Struggles
28:41 Financial Turmoil and Media Takeover
30:32 Golden Years and European Semi-Final Curse
33:31 Qatari Takeover and Controversies
41:45 Branding and Big Signings
46:31 Modern Challenges and Future Prospects
50:12 Conclusion and Champions League final thoughts
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I have the dream of winning the Champions League for Paris. |
| 0:10.0 | I'm proud to be Piersch since the first day. |
| 0:13.0 | It's not because there are good times and bad times that my pride takes the eat. |
| 0:17.0 | The pride of playing for this club are representing the club as the capital of my country. |
| 0:22.3 | It's like something special for me who grew up there. To experience an evening like this one as |
| 0:27.0 | a Parisian, it's great. We have one more step to go. Welcome to What's What It Was, the Football History |
| 0:32.7 | Podcast. I'm Jonathan Wilson. I'm with Rob Draper. And that was a special recorded interview with Killing Mbapé from April 224. |
| 0:40.9 | He did very well to get your microphone under his nose to say those words, Rob. |
| 0:44.9 | And he was reflecting there on the importance of the Champions League for Paris Saint-Chrymoud, |
| 0:50.0 | who of course be playing in the Champions League final on Saturday against Inter. |
| 1:29.6 | So do also go back to listen to the Interpod looking at Alenio Herrera, Cadmacho and the sort of formation of Inter was a great European club from the mid-60s from that episode we put out on Tuesday. So listen to that. And then today, Rob, we're talking about PSG, this club, you're really with very little history in footballing terms. Yeah, just over 50 years old. To take us back then to the day before Alan Shear was born in 1970 when PSG come kicking and screaming, mulling and puking into the world. Yeah, they are also as old as me. |
| 1:35.0 | I am also like Anne Scherer about to approach my 55th birthday. And I chose that Killian Mbap quote because of course the whole world laughing a little bit at Killian, aren't they? |
| 1:38.3 | Because he's contra Rio Madrid to win a Champions League. Now, PSG stand on the cusp of doing |
| 1:42.7 | the very thing that they couldn't do when he was there. |
| 1:45.5 | But that whole Mbapé saga and signing all the Galacticos was they're just so desperate to get this over the line and haven't been able to. |
| 1:52.6 | And I think the contrast of Internationale, who are one of the grands of European football, aren't they? |
| 1:58.4 | One of the great historical clubs. And they're just so fresh and new. |
| 2:03.0 | And some R-eyes, I know to a younger listener, being 55 may seem ancient, but in football terms, it feels very young. |
| 2:11.3 | Do you see this week, Minnesota mocking into Miami for being a Johnny Com Latey Newfound. |
| 2:16.2 | Minnesota, who were found it 10 years ago. |
| 2:18.5 | Banta. |
| 2:19.6 | Banta US stock. |
... |
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