Getting tickets to big games is never easy. After watching his former club Marseille beat FC Salzburg on aggregate to book a Europa League final date with Atletico Madrid, Benjamin Mendy decided to go straight to the man who was the driving force behind the venue for the showpiece occasion.
C possible d'avoir 2 places pour la finale svp @JM_Aulas ? ❤️
— Benjamin Mendy (@benmendy23) May 3, 2018
"Is it possible to have two tickets for the final, please, Jean-Michel Aulas?" Mendy tweeted to the Lyon president, whose relations with Marseille have been severely strained in recent weeks.
The source of the tension: a chant from the OM supporters aimed at Aulas declaring: "We're going to win it at your place."
It was Aulas' dream to see Lyon play in the final, and win the competition, in their own stadium.
That dream was shattered when they were knocked out in the round of 16 by CSKA Moscow, and now Aulas' worst nightmare has become reality.
The euphoria over Marseille's progress to their first European final in 14 years might not only provoke a rush for tickets, but could also swell the numbers of the club's passionate fans.
Spring 2019
— Olympique Marseille (@OM_English) May 3, 2018
- Congratulations! Have you decided on a name?
- "Jorge Pires da Fonseca Rolando" 🇵🇹 😅
⚪️🔵 #FCSOM pic.twitter.com/C5ZJ78rpel
OM's English Twitter account suggested some supporters might take that passion back home with them to "honour" the hero of the night: defender Rolando, who got the crucial goal in extra time that secured Marseille's place in the final 3-2 on aggregate.