BARCELONA fans are setting off fireworks outside PSG’s team hotel, in an attempt to prevent the French side’s stars from sleeping.
The relationship between the two sides has been strained at best, since Barcelona’s stunning 6-1 Champions League victory over the Parisians, followed by the subsequent £200million Neymar deal.
Fireworks are let off outside PSG’s hotel
The French giants trained in Barcelona this evening ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League clashCredit: The Mega Agency
But things have reached breaking point this season, given PSG’s very public pursuit of Lionel Messi.
Speculation over the Argentine’s future has loomed large over Barcelona’s season.
But with PSG in town, their fans wanted to cause some disruption of their own.
In video footage captured by El Chiringuito, large cracks can be heard reverberating through the Catalonia sky, just by where PSG happen to be staying.
This follows the less than hospitable welcome that PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi received upon his arrival earlier today.
In more footage, fans can be heard shouting: “Son of a b***h! Thief! Let go of Messi, thief!”
PSG have not been shy of expressing their interest in the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, with Mauricio Pochettino, Neymar and Angel Di Maria having all made admiring noises – while France Football mocked up a front page image of Messi in a PSG shirt.
This led to Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman furiously criticising the ‘disrespectful’ French giants.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Ronald Koeman has been disgusted by PSG’s public Messi pursuitCredit: Getty Images – Getty
PSG were upset by this France Football front pageCredit: France Football
He said: “It’s wrong to say such things, especially because it heats up our Champions League match even more.
“I think it’s not fair and it’s disrespectful to talk so much about one player who is still playing for Barcelona.
“I think it is disrespectful to talk so much about Leo while he is playing for Barcelona, especially before a Champions League match against them.”
To this, Pochettino hit back: “At no time have we shown disrespect.
“Players can talk, say what they think about other players. We have total respect for clubs. Do not mistake France Football for PSG.”
The teams can finally take their verbal jousting to the pitch tomorrow night at Camp Nou, before returning to Paris for the second leg in three weeks time.
Koeman and Pochettino will face off in person on Tuesday nightCredit: Getty Images – Getty
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta slams PSG for Messi transfer pursuit
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
