Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was absent from the Parc des Princes for the Champions League match against Chelsea on Tuesday, unable to travel from Doha due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Qatari official, who rarely misses home games, was stranded after a series of American and Israeli strikes on February 28 disrupted flights in the region.
Despite his absence, Al-Khelaifi remained in contact with key staff, including sporting director Luis Campos and the coaching team, as PSG aimed to defend their Champions League title. The club's rise to European prominence began over a decade ago when Qatar Sports Investments, led by Al-Khelaifi, acquired the club and invested heavily in its success.
PSG secured their first Champions League trophy last season under manager Luis Enrique, completing a treble with a 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final at the Allianz Arena. Al-Khelaifi described the triumph as a victory for French football, telling Canal+: 'We're defending the French flag, we're a French club, we deserve it.'
The Parisian side advanced to the last 16 after overcoming Monaco in the knockout play-off round. They now face Chelsea, who defeated them in the Club World Cup final last summer, offering a chance for revenge.
