Hakimi questions venue and preparation after Paris Saint-Germain lose French Super Cup

Achraf Hakimi said Paris Saint-Germain’s French Super Cup defeat by Lens was influenced by circumstances beyond their control, including playing at their opponents’ home ground without their own supporters.

Paris Saint-Germain were beaten 1-0 by Lens at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Sunday, despite Lens being reduced to 10 players. The victory allowed the Ligue 1 runners-up to lift the French Super Cup on home soil.

Hakimi, 27, said Paris Saint-Germain had done everything they could to win but believed the match had not been played in a fully neutral environment.

“We did everything we could to win, and we controlled the entire match, but there were circumstances beyond our control,” the Morocco international told Ligue 1+.

He added, as reported by Foot Mercato: “Playing on a pitch like this, which was not neutral, and without our supporters… we should have played under the same conditions. Today, I felt as if it were a Ligue 1 match. These are not excuses.”

The defender also pointed to Paris Saint-Germain’s schedule and preparations, saying the team had not been able to approach the fixture in ideal circumstances.

“We have played finals at neutral venues, and now we are playing away from home. But we will continue working for what is to come,” Hakimi said.

He also explained that some members of the squad had missed training or arrived late, while the team had played in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday and needed time to recover.

“Some players missed training and arrived late, and we played a match on Wednesday the UEFA Super Cup and we needed to rest. We have to continue working for the upcoming matches,” he said.

Hakimi’s comments came after a final in which Paris Saint-Germain were unable to turn their control of the match into a goal, while Lens held on to claim the trophy. He maintained that the team’s complaints about the setting were not intended as excuses, but reflected the difference between playing at a neutral venue and facing Lens in their own stadium.

The result gave Lens the French Super Cup after their second-place finish in Ligue 1. For Paris Saint-Germain, the match followed their UEFA Super Cup appearance on Wednesday and came during a period in which the squad was still managing the demands of a busy schedule and disrupted preparation.