This Wednesday morning, a few hours before the exceptional meeting between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City in the Champions League, the trophies of the Premier League, that of the Community Shield and the FIFA Club World Cup were present in RMC premises. Throughout the day, supporters of the English champion will be able to discover these trophies in several corners of the capital and chat with former PSG and City player, Ali Benarbia. An operation which should allow the English club to get closer to its fans present in France.
A real “club culture”. After 8:30 a.m., several people in charge of security, communication and Ali Benarbia arrived at the RMC premises. At the dawn of an exceptional match between PSG and Manchester City, three trophies are present in the heavy suitcases of the Citizens delegation. A media tour, in two Parisian editorial offices, to present the titles of the English club acquired last season. Just after this appearance in front of the media, the trophies will tour the capital until the start of the Champions League match (9 p.m.) They will be presented to the 2,000 English fans gathered in Paris today and in front of the “French Branch” of Manchester City.
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The Skyblues are not the only club to carry out this type of operation. But very few of them do it so regularly. This short visit with supporters, in the four corners of the planet, allows a rapprochement between former players, the club and the fans.
“It’s very important, because I see these fans going to the stands,” explains Ali Benarbia, former Manchester City and PSG player. “They like to recognize former players. But the important thing is that it has to come from the club, not the player. That's the case with Manchester City.”
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen like that in all clubs”
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen like that in all clubs, or it takes an exceptional event,” adds Ali Benarbia. In France, some Ligue 1 clubs organize operations with their fans abroad, but the format is smaller. These events are often exceptional and the relationship with supporters abroad is often achieved through courses organized before the competitions.
-“The fans love it to be able to meet former players, to be able to chat with them,” adds the former Citizens. “Supporters identify with a player, a story. It’s the story of a club.”
The French account of Manchester City very followed
The French-speaking branch is evolving rapidly on the Manchester City side. On X, the English champion is followed by more than a million people on his account in French.
“Our branch has experienced great growth since the Premier League treble,” adds Daniel, a member of the “French Branch” who lives in Manchester. The latter speaks of a “relationship of trust” with the English club in the organization of meetings and events. Several English clubs are very active, such as Manchester City, with several communities all over the world. Nothing comparable in other championships.
French City fans gather in a bar in the capital to watch the club's matches. The three trophies will also be presented to supporters in their Parisian HQ. Some members are also subscribers and make several trips throughout the season to go to the Etihad. The little Parisian stroll of Manchester City's trophies will end this evening with the match at the Parc des Princes… where the 2,000 fans of the English club present in the park are hoping for a victory against PSG.
