Achraf Hakimi criticises French Super Cup venue after PSG defeat

Morocco international Achraf Hakimi criticised the matchday conditions after Paris Saint-Germain lost 1-0 to Lens in the French Super Cup on Sunday.

The PSG defender questioned whether the venue provided the neutral setting expected for a major final, pointing to the absence of Paris Saint-Germain supporters and saying the occasion felt more like an away match.

Lens secured the trophy with the victory, handing PSG their first setback of the season.

Hakimi questions neutral setting

Hakimi said PSG’s players had given everything despite the defeat but felt some factors surrounding the match were outside their control.

“We did everything we could to win and dominated throughout the match, but there were certain things beyond our control.”

The Morocco full-back then highlighted the lack of PSG supporters at the stadium and questioned whether both teams had been given equal conditions.

“Playing in a stadium under these conditions, without it being neutral and without our fans, was far from ideal. We should have played under equal conditions. Today, it felt more like a Ligue 1 match, but that is no excuse,” Hakimi added.

PSG preparations disrupted

The Moroccan defender also pointed to PSG’s demanding schedule and the late return of some players as factors that affected their preparations.

Hakimi said the team had limited time to recover after playing on Wednesday, while some squad members missed training before rejoining the group.

“We’ve played finals on neutral grounds before, but today it felt like we were playing an away game. Still, we’ll keep working hard for what’s ahead. Some players missed training sessions and rejoined the squad late, plus we had a match on Wednesday and needed time to recover our energy,” he concluded.

Lens claim Super Cup

Despite PSG’s frustrations, Lens held on to their 1-0 victory to lift the French Super Cup and spoil what had been an otherwise promising start to the season for the reigning European champions.

Hakimi and his team-mates will now look to put the defeat behind them and focus on the challenges that lie ahead.

For the Morocco international, the result was disappointing, but his comments also reflected PSG’s determination to respond on the pitch in their next fixtures.