"Live once again to the rhythm of Paris Saint-Germain"
Antoine, the President of the PSG Fan Club Los Angeles, tells us about the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on his everyday life.
Since the start of the COVID-19 health crisis, the lack of Paris Saint-Germain action has ben felt ever more by the supporters. Antoine, the president of the Fan Club Los Angeles tells us about his daily life and the evolution of the situation where he lives in the United States: "Before confinement and the COVID-19 health crisis were were able to enjoy the match against Borussia Dortmund in our bar. There were 40 of us there supporting Paris Saint-Germain. The day after the Dortmund game, the governor of California announced the lockdown. Since mid-March we have been in a state of emergency. Over the last few weeks we have been able to go out a bit, but always while respecting health advice and the barrier gestures. The shops are starting to reopen but large gatherings are still banned. I hope we won't have a second wave."
In spite of the special context, Antoine hasn't broken off contact with the other members of the fan club while awaiting the return to competitive action of the Rouge et Bleu: "With the fan club we stay in contact through Facebook and Twitter, but we don't have much in the way of direct lines for now. Unfortunately we're the only league that hasn't started up again, so we can't even do a video group in order to watch a match together. We hope we will soon be able to watch Paris Saint-Germain again and we hope that conditions will improve. For the rest of the Champions League season I hope to be able to invite people to our bar and to live some great moments together again. Everyone is ready and impatient."
Antoine continues to keep up with the news from his favourite club and hopes the rest of the Champions League season will be in keeping with the Round of 16 tie with Dortmund: "After this qualification for the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Dortmund, there was a lot of joy and euphoria but also great relief. We saw the fans outside the stadium, it was something unique. All Parisians the world over are proud of their team. We hope it will carry on like that and that the team that will go as far as possible in this competition so close to our hearts. We have a superb squad that always gives everything on the field, and we have to believe in them and to get behind them."
Facing up to this crisis, Antoine wanted to get one last message across: "Here we applaud health workers every evening at 19:00. We must pay homage to them and all those who are fighting this virus as they are our heroes. It's down to us now to respect the barrier gestures in order to fight the virus. I hope the club's fans and their families are doing well. Our desire is to get our usual lives back and live once again to the rhythm of Paris Saint-Germain."