How ex-Man Utd and Arsenal flop Mkhitaryan can make history in Champions League final as Inter Milan take on PSG
HE bombed without trace at two of the Premier League's biggest clubs and he was the often-forgotten makeweight in one of most disastrous transfers in the top-flight's recent history.
But at the age of 36, Henrikh Mkhitaryan can make European football history by helping Inter Milan to the Champions League crown against Paris Saint-Germain.
Advertisement
4
Henrikh Mkhitaryan can become the first player to win all three European competitions
Credit: Getty
4
He already has the Europa and Conference Leagues to his name
Credit: Getty
When Alexis Sanchez switched from Arsenal to Old Trafford in January 2018 — a move announced by an infamous social-media video of the Chilean tickling the ivories with 'Glory, Glory
And while Sanchez became one of United's greatest flops, Mkhitaryan did not fare much better in north London.
The Armenian midfield man was Arsene Wenger's penultimate
And they were perhaps best summed up helping Unai Emery's Gunners to the 2019 Europa League final against
Advertisement
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Yet if Inter claim the Champions League - Mkhitaryan will become the first player to play an active role in winning the finals of all three existing European club competitions.
He both lifted the Europa League and Conference League under Jose Mourinho — with United in 2017 and Roma in 2022 — even though The Special One ditched him in that Sanchez swap deal.
The feeling was Mkhitaryan was too lightweight and passive for the Premier League.
And while United fans enjoyed his occasional moments of flair, Mourinho took against him.
Advertisement
Most read in Football
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS
Yet at Inter his experience and nous make him a key member of Simone Inzaghi's side which narrowly missed out on the Scudetto as well as losing this season's Italian Cup final.
They are desperate to avoid a hat-trick of runners-up medals by winning in Munich.
Mkhitaryan said: 'I hope experience will count in the final. It's not just me, I have a lot of experienced team-mates.'
Advertisement
He is not kidding. In Serie A, they certainly value a good veteran.
Mkhitaryan, his fellow former Man Utd player Matteo Darmian, keeper Yann Sommer and defender
But Inter defeated Harry Kane's Bayern Munich in the quarter- finals before coming through their epic semi-final goalfest with Barcelona — 7-6 on aggregate.
And the bookies are struggling to separate them from a far more youthful PSG side.
Advertisement
4
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is one of many experienced Inter players
Credit: Alamy
For
On the eve of the final, he did little to dampen down rumours of an impending, money-spinning move to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal.
Inzaghi, 49, said: 'I will meet the club's senior management and have a chat next week in a very relaxed manner.
Advertisement
'Our decision will have the best interests of Inter at heart.
'But it's hugely exciting before a Champions League final.'
The long road to the final began with a 0-0 draw against old foes City in the league stage.
Inzaghi added: 'We've shown a great desire ever since matchday one in the group phase at City and against some top opposition like Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and
Advertisement
'Now we are just one step shy. We deserve to be here.
"Two years ago we played against Pep's City — who were the best team in the world at that time — and we possibly deserved more.
'We have learned from that and we will use that experience.
'
Advertisement
'But we have the most possession in Serie A this season.
'We must keep the ball and use our hard running, desire and experience if we are to bring home the trophy.'
Flanked by captain Lautaro Martinez — a World Cup winner with Argentina — and Italy midfielder Nicolo Barella, Inzaghi said: 'I am here with two players who bleed black and blue. They are hugely important players. I have blind faith in both of them.
'I am asking them all for concentration and determination — but not obsession because we need cool heads and free minds.
Advertisement
'We have Champions League and World Cup winners in the squad and we have learned a lot over our four years together.'
Martinez, who has netted nine times in this season's Champions League, says the players will dedicate the trophy to Inzaghi if they beat PSG.
The striker, 27, said: 'We're pretty relaxed about the rumour, we hear them day in and day out about our players and coach.
'We want to dedicate this trophy to the coach as well as the fans and our families who are with us every day.
Advertisement
'Everything we have achieved is down to the hard work, sacrifice and humility of the team unit.'
4
Simone Inzaghi says his side have learned from final heartbreak two years ago
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The 42
an hour ago
- The 42
Sweden's Maja Stark grabs one-shot lead at US Women's Open
MAJA STARK FIRED three birdies in an impressively steady two-under-par 70 at unforgiving Erin Hills on Saturday to seize a one stroke lead over Julia Lopez Ramirez heading into the final round of the 80th US Women's Open. Sweden's Stark, a European Solheim Cup stalwart chasing her first major title, kept her focus in a round that stretched nearly six hours as players wrestled with firm, fast greens on a breezy, sunny day in Wisconsin. Her seven-under-par total put her one stroke clear of Spanish qualifier Lopez Ramirez, whose four-under-par 68 was the best score of a day on which only nine players broke par. Japan's Mai Saigo, who started the day with a three-shot lead, carded a three-over-par 75 to share third alongside compatriots Rio Takeda and Hinako Shibuno on five-under. Advertisement World number one Nelly Korda, who played alongside Saigo in the final group, finished strong in a one-over 73 that left her three adrift on four-under. Stark opened with a confidence-boosting birdie at the first hole. She bogeyed the third, but stuck her second shot at the 10th two feet from the pin for a birdie. Stark rattled in a 21-foot birdie at the par-three 16th to seize a share of the lead on seven-under, capping her round with a par at the par-five 18th and emerging with the solo lead as Saigo closed with back-to-back bogeys. The tough scoring made Lopez Ramirez's round look all the more impressive. The 22-year-old, who had to pause her LPGA rookie campaign in March after undergoing an appendectomy, eagled the par-five first and bounced back from a bogey at the third with a birdie at the seventh, where she got up and down from a greenside bunker. She added birdies at 12 and 16 to put herself in contention for a first major title. Saigo, gunning for a second major title of the season after winning the Chevron Championship in April, was battling even before her bogey-bogey finish. She had two birdies and a bogey in her first three holes then bogeyed the fourth, fifth and sixth — failing to get up and down after missing the geen at all three. The 23-year-old had regained the solo lead with an eight-foot birdie at the 12th but couldn't hang on. Korda appeared to be spiraling out of contention with four bogeys on the front nine. That included three-putts at the second and fifth and a five-foot miss at the seventh. But the American star clawed back with birdies at the 14th and 15th — where she took advantage of the US Golf Association's decision to move up the tee to drive the green and calmly rolled in an eight-foot birdie putt. Her six-foot birdie putt at the 18th circled the cup before falling in, leaving her exactly where she started the day three shots off the lead. – © AFP 2025
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Two dead and 192 injured as 426 arrests made in France chaos after PSG win
Tragedy struck in France following Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League victory, with two people losing their lives amidst the celebrations that turned violent with police clashes. A 17-year-old boy suffered a fatal stabbing to the chest, while a 20-year-old woman was tragically hit by a vehicle filled with supporters, according to French media reports. The aftermath of the jubilation saw a staggering 426 arrests, 417 of which occurred in Paris, and by Sunday morning, 216 individuals were in police custody, including 207 in the capital. The tensions escalated after Saturday night's match, resulting in injuries to 13 police officers and 192 civilians. Even before the final whistle, as PSG led 2-0 with goals from Achraf Hakimi and Desire Doue, officers resorted to using a water cannon on the Champs-Élysées at half-time. The police justified this action as necessary to "protect the Place de l'Étoile, as the barrier set up had been broken through by a large crowd of people not watching the match, pushing to come into contact with the police". Although the area around Place de l'Étoile was eventually cleared without incident in the early hours, other parts of the city witnessed brawls and looting. The night also saw the deployment of tear gas and the wielding of batons by law enforcement. Firefighters had their hands full extinguishing 148 fires and dealing with 46 vehicles that were torched. Police faced a barrage of missiles during the unrest, reports the Mirror. Social media was awash with shocking videos capturing the mayhem as police, armed with batons, engaged with rioters throughout Paris, close to where thousands of fans had assembled. An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 individuals had gathered on the Champs-Élysées alone. France's Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has made his stance crystal clear regarding the recent riots. He took to social media to express his thoughts: "True PSG fans are getting excited about their team's magnificent performance. "Meanwhile, barbarians have taken to the streets of Paris to commit crimes and provoke law enforcement. I have asked the internal security forces to react vigorously to these abuses. "I offer my support to the Police Prefect and all the police officers who are ensuring everyone's safety this evening. It is unbearable that it is not possible to party without fearing the savagery of a minority of thugs who respect nothing." Despite the aftermath of Saturday night's disturbances, the Champs-Élysées is still scheduled to be the backdrop for PSG's victory parade on Sunday afternoon. The event will celebrate the club's unprecedented success with large screens, speakers, and music. PSG secured a historic 5-0 triumph over Inter Milan, marking the biggest win ever in the final of the competition. Achraf Hakimi kicked off the scoring, followed by a double from young sensation Desire Doue. Inter's troubles were compounded when Khicha Kvaratskhelia added to the tally. Nineteen-year-old Senny Mayulu, hailing from Paris, completed the rout as Luis Enrique joined an elite group, becoming the seventh individual to clinch the Champions League title with two different clubs, having previously succeeded with Barcelona in 2015.
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Champions League final: Two dead and more than 500 arrested during PSG celebrations
More than 500 people were arrested by police during the Champions League final celebrations in France this weekend, and two people were reported dead and 192 injured, the ministry for interior affairs said on Sunday. Wild celebrations erupted across the French capital and beyond on Saturday night after Paris Saint Germain crushed Italian opponents Inter Milan to win the Champions League for the first time , although skirmishes with police later threatened to spoil the party. The ministry's provisional assessment as of Sunday morning was that 559 people had been arrested, including 491 in Paris, which led to 320 people being placed in police custody, 254 of them in Paris. On the Champs Elysees, bus shelters were smashed and projectiles hurled at riot police, who fired tear gas and water cannons to push back surging crowds as thousands of supporters descended on the boutique-lined boulevard. READ MORE The ministry on Sunday reported hundreds of fires, including more than 200 vehicles burned. Some 22 members of the security forces and seven firefighters were injured. – Reuters
