Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has challenged his players to cement their legacy by capturing the elusive Champions League trophy when they face Inter Milan at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Saturday evening.
“There’s only one match left,” Enrique stated in a video shared on the club’s official social media. “There are only two teams left in the Champions League, Inter and us. We need to finish the job because our aim is to go down in history.”
Despite acknowledging Inter’s greater experience on the European stage, Enrique believes his double-winning side fully deserves their place in the final after navigating a treacherous path through the competition. PSG had to win their final three league phase matches against RB Salzburg, Manchester City, and Stuttgart just to advance, before eliminating Premier League trio Brest, Liverpool, and Arsenal in the knockout rounds.
This represents PSG’s second Champions League final appearance, following their narrow 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in 2020. For the Qatari-owned club, European success has remained frustratingly out of reach despite their domestic dominance, having claimed nine of the last eleven Ligue 1 titles.
Saturday’s final marks a significant milestone in PSG’s post-Messi era. Following the Argentine superstar’s departure last summer, many questioned whether the Parisians could maintain their competitive edge in Europe. Under Enrique’s guidance, the team has evolved into a more balanced unit, with Kylian Mbappé shouldering the offensive responsibilities in what will be his final appearance for the club before his expected move to Real Madrid.
Inter Milan, meanwhile, enter as slight underdogs despite their impressive domestic campaign. Simone Inzaghi’s side secured the Serie A title with five games to spare and boast a formidable defensive record, conceding just three goals in their Champions League journey to Munich.
The final also represents a tactical chess match between Enrique’s possession-based approach and Inzaghi’s pragmatic counter-attacking system. With stars like Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Lautaro Martínez on display, the showpiece promises to be a fitting conclusion to this season’s Champions League competition.
