PSG star Kylian Mbappe has lashed out at all of those that talk down the quality of the French league, dismissing the typical “Farmers League” criticism in the aftermath of Lyon’s stunning win over Manchester City.
This very insult is often thrown around by fans to mock the quality of the French League, but it hardly holds true this season as the semis will see two French teams. And for the first time since 1991, there will be no English, Spanish and Italian clubs in the last four.
The Bundesliga – through Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig – has matched Ligue 1’s representation in the semi-finals, while the usual big-hitters from the Premier League, LaLiga and Serie A are all missing.
Lyon, who finished seventh in a curtailed Ligue 1 season, became the second French club to qualify for the final four after Mbappe’s Paris Saint-Germain overcame a stubborn Atalanta side on Wednesday.
Lyon surprised everyone last week when they beat Juventus in the last 16 of the competition, to book a place in the mini-tournament in Lisbon, and on Saturday night they did the same against City.
After the final whistle, Mbappe went on Twitter to congratulate Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 rivals while also aiming a jibe at those that continually talk down about the French league. The PSG star restated the common “Farmers League” insult along with a clown emoji before saluting Lyon with several clap emojis for good measure.
And while the French league has long held a reputation beneath that of Europe’s remaining four ‘major’ leagues, Mbappe certainly feels the duo have made a statement over the last week.
PSG and Lyon will now face the German duo of RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich respectively as they hope to set up the first-ever all French Champions League final in this year’s edition of Europe’s premier club competition.
