AFP/Paris

The Qatari revolution which has pushed Paris Saint-Germain’s men’s team to the brink of a third consecutive Ligue 1 title has also lifted their women’s team to new heights.
PSG head to Berlin for their first ever Women’s Champions League final today with French hopes high three weeks ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Canada.
Since being taken over by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) in 2011 the French club has been transformed, and nowhere more than their previously impoverished women’s setup, explains PSG captain Sabrina Delannoy who will be among seven players from the club also competing for France in the World Cup from June 6 to July 5.
Tight budgets and erratic training sessions have given way to a sleek professional setup with more backroom staff, plush hotels and training camps - the latest in Qatar just two weeks ago.
“When we arrived in the hotel in Qatar we said to ourselves ‘Wow, what has happened in four years’,” Delannoy said in an interview with French sports daily L’Equipe.
“Without the arrival of the Qataris I don’t know where I would be today,” admitted the 28-year-old defender who was at the club for seven years before they turned professional in 2012.
“I thought we would have a bit more resources with foreign players beefing up the group but I didn’t expect a revolution. .. I didn’t expect what was going to happen.”
She added: “In Berlin there won’t be just the 25 players and staff, there will be all of PSG behind us, because it’s historic and because people believe in the women’s team.”

GERMAN DOMINATION  
Winning the Champions League crown would be an exploit for the Parisians against experienced German side Frankfurt, winners of a record three titles and competing in a sixth final.
German clubs have won eight of the 13 editions of the elite European tournament and their national team have been reigning European champions since 1995 as well as lifting two Women’s World Cups.
PSG by contrast have never won the Ligue 1 title, finishing runners-up in three of the last four years to consecutive nine-time champions Lyon, the 2011 and 2012 Champions League winners whom the Parisians eliminated en route to the final along with two-time defending champions Wolfsburg.
The clash should also provide a preview ahead of the World Cup between teams from two countries—top ranked Germany and France ranked third by FIFA—who are among the favourites.
Germany are former two-time winners while France have never won a major tournament but got to the 2011 World Cup and 2012 Olympic semi-finals.
PSG players make up the bulk of national coach Philippe Bergeroo’s 23-player France squad, with five Frankfurt players on Silvia Neid’s Germany roster.
Having finished third in the women’s Bundesliga behind winners Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg, Frankfurt have missed out on qualifying for next season’s Champions League and want to bow out with a fourth European title having won the trophy in 2002, 2006 and 2008.
“We want to enjoy the game and are focused on a fourth title, we want to make sure we dominate, ever if our recovery time has been short,” said Frankfurt’s English coach Colin Bell.
His side drew 1-1 at home to second-placed Wolfsburg on Sunday in their final league game of the season.


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