Steven Gerrard names PSG's 'biggest problem' after Champions League final win
Steven Gerrard believes Paris Saint-Germain could now face a 'big problem' in the summer transfer window after their 5-0 win against Inter in the Champions League final.
Luis Enrique's side hammered Inter in Saturday's final with Desire Doue scoring twice, while Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and 19-year-old substitute Senny Mayulu also found the net in an impressive performance at the Allianz Arena.
PSG impressed during the knockout stages of the Champions League this season as they eliminated Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal en route to the final.
And Gerrard believes the newly crowned European champions face a difficult task in improving Luis Enrique's squad before the start of next season.
'The biggest problem they've got, if they've got a problem, is where do they go to improve it?' Gerrard asked.
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'Do they give the recruitment some time off? Who is out there, who is available, who can come in and take this team to the next level? Because they've got everything.'
Gerrard also hailed PSG's Vitinha as 'the new Xavi' after another impressive display at the heart of Luis Enrique's midfield.
'We spoke before the game – does he deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola? The answer is yes, it's such an emphatic way as well,' Gerrard said on TNT Sports.
'This team he's put together, it can beat you in any way, it can beat you with speed, it can beat you with quality, it can force you into a low block and have the variety to open low blocks up, it's fantastic with set-pieces, it's got so any game-changers. The talent across this squad… it's a special group of players and they're getting coached by a special person as well.
'There's one way to answer it – go and put in the best Champions League performance there's ever been. I'm 45 years of age and I've never seen a performance like that. Challenge that.
'To a man, there's no ego, they're prepared to do the dirty work. More Trending
'I think they were 4-0 up and both wingers were chasing back to regain the ball. They're prepared to do the hard yards, they fight for each other, they survive when they need to survive.
'They're an all-round good team, they're brilliant at both sides of the game.'
Owen Hargreaves then said: What about Vitinha? It's like he had the freedom of the pitch, nobody got near him at any point.
Gerrard replied: 'The new Xavi, he's the new Xavi.'
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MORE: Luis Enrique names his choice to win Ballon d'Or after Champions League final
MORE: Gianluigi Donnarumma speaks out on his PSG future after Champions League win
MORE: Thierry Henry and Arsene Wenger share emotional celebration after Champions League final
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Inside the 'uncontrollable' PSG Paris riots: Shocking videos reveal terrifying scenes of cars attacked and burned, shops looted and 491 people arrested
Paris' chief of police Laurent Nunez has argued that there was 'sufficient' policing provided by the city ahead of the riots that saw 491 people arrested and chaos in the streets in the wake of Paris Saint-Germain 's historic Champions League win. Luis Enrique's side claimed their maiden major European title in a 5-0 rout of Inter Milan in Munich on Saturday night, with Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Senny Mayulu and Desire Doue all finding the back of the net at the Allianz Arena. With the majority of French capital natives supporting the Rouge-et-Bleu rather than their much smaller rivals Paris FC, the city quickly erupted into raucous celebrations. But while most of the PSG fans kept their festivities within the boundaries of the law, a small minority sparked a night of mayhem and destruction as supporters took to the streets. Rioting broke out throughout Paris and beyond, with two people tragically killed in events connected with the celebrations. Firefighters in the capital were forced to extinguish street fires which took in cars, with a number of businesses broken into and looted. C'est grave ce que certains ont fait cette nuit. D'accord le PSG sont champions mais de là à terroriser des jeunes filles ? — AQABABE (@AQABABE_) June 1, 2025 Two women were among those affected by the rioting and chaos in the wake of Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League win when their car was surrounded and broken into by a crowd of supporters In one shocking video, two women were seen being set upon in their car by a crowd of supporters, with their windscreen later smashed and a window kicked through by one man to reveal their terrified expressions. After PSG's victory parade on Sunday afternoon, there was further trouble on the famous Champs-Elysees avenue, with riot police using flash ball guns and tear gas on the celebrants. But despite the chaos, Nunez insisted that the number of police officers deployed ahead of the weekend's events had been ample, with the small minority which misbehaved intent on doing so regardless of circumstances. '5,400 police officers on Saturday, of course, that was enough,' Nunez said on Monday, via Le Parisien. 'We prevented a lot of damage, there were 491 arrests and 79 more on Sunday. That's an unprecedented number of arrests.' Nunez denounced the rioters, continuing: 'What we deplore is that there are people who are actually making fun of the cause, the celebration, and the PSG match, since they weren't even watching it. 'They simply came to the Parc des Princes and the Champs-Elysees to commit atrocities, loot, and attack the police.' Nunez added that he wasn't looking to 'glorify' the incidents on Saturday evening, and that he 'wasn't satisfied' with how the evening had ended, but he was adamant that 'we can't talk about a security breach.' 'It's a societal problem and all stakeholders must address it. To say it's a failure ignores the fact that we arrested a huge number of people and that it will have a deterrent effect in the future. The government's response is firm.' The chief of police also shed light on an intervention he viewed as a success which saw police break up disruption on the main ring road around the city on Sunday. Porte de Saint-Cloud, une voiture a été incendiée lors des affrontements entre supporters du PSG et forces de l'ordre. Intervention des pompiers. — CLPRESS / Agence de presse (@CLPRESSFR) June 1, 2025 Police deployed tear gas and grenades, and mounted baton charges to break up the crowds The scenes in Paris last night after PSG won the Champions League… What the actual fuck. — george (@StokeyyG2) June 1, 2025 According to the outlet, some 50 people set up barricades on the road using barriers and rentable bikes. Footage taken of an incident on the ring road on Saturday evening appeared to show people running from riot police who arrived at the scene on motorbikes. Fireworks were being set off in an attempt to move the police on, and a number of e-bikes were flung onto the road from nearby bridges. Police were filmed eventually moving the rioters on, but not after some rough-handling of two men. Further instances of disturbance on Sunday evening saw a vehicle set on fire near the stadium, as well as a number of clashes between small groups and the police. The night before, major roads close to Parc des Princes, the PSG home ground were invaded by fans, bringing traffic to a halt, with riot police attempting to restore order using tear gas and baton charges. Cars were set on fire around the Porte de Saint-Cloud - a major traffic intersection - where fireworks were fired at police. Huge crowds gathered in all the city's major squares, including République, Bastille, and Nation, where videos posted on X showed some of the worst violence. Paris, the city of love. ❤️ — Ada Lluch (@ada_lluch) May 31, 2025 Gangs of people watched as cars were set on fire and burned in the streets of Paris At Bastille, a 23-year-old woman was seriously injured after falling onto barriers from the famous column commemorating the Storming of the Bastille in 1789. Video footage also showed crowds standing around burning cars, until they were told loudly to 'move' as firefighters sought to contain the blazing vehicles. A ring of steel had been created around the Champs-Élysées, with major department stores and banks using steel shutters to try and keep looters away. PSG's official club shops on the Champs, and at their ground, were also barricaded over the weekend. Despite this, a Foot Locker sports store on Champs-Élysées was broken into, and goods including multiple trainers stolen. A Maisons du Monde furniture store on the nearby Avenue Wagram was also looted, said a police spokesman. 'The crowds are going wild,' said an eye-witness, who asked to be referred to as Jacques, 18. 'Many people are just enjoying the win, on a historic night for PSG, while others just want to be violent, and to vandalise or steal stuff - it is shameful.' La boutique Foot Locker des #ChampsElysee a été vandalisée et pillée pendant les célébrations de la victoire du #ParisSaintGermain en finale de la Ligue des Champions. — CLPRESS / Agence de presse (@CLPRESSFR) June 1, 2025 PSG made history with their win as they claimed the trophy in a 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan Youths wearing masks and hoodies were seen roaming around the city looking for trouble. Motorbikes and discarded mattresses were set alight, sending thick black smoke billowing through the night sky. There was even fighting reported around the Eiffel Tower, which was lit up in PSG's red, white and blue following their 5-0 win. At nearby Roland-Garros, the French Open was touched by the chaos, with fireworks and crowd noise providing a soundtrack to night matches including the all-British clash between Jacob Fearnley and Cam Norrie, and Novak Djokovic's defeat of Filip Misolic. Djokovic revealed on Sunday that there had been some discussion after the end of the match about whether the players were safe to return to their hotels. 'At one point they were discussing whether we should stay at the rooms and hotels around Roland Garros, because where we are staying is quite close to the Arc de Triomphe,' Djokovic said. 'It was quite a scene yesterday, there was a lot of trouble on the streets. We barely made it to the hotel around 1am to be honest. 'It was quite an adventure I must say. In the end we were good. It is a big thing for Paris.'
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Luis Enrique was rejected by Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea and snubbed three English clubs including SWANSEA
LUIS ENRIQUE has yet to manage in England - but there's been no shortage of opportunity. The Spaniard, 55, guided Paris Saint-Germain to a maiden Champions League triumph on Saturday night. Advertisement 3 Luis Enrique led PSG to a first ever Champions League triumph Credit: Getty 3 The Spaniard has previously claimed he would like to manage in England Credit: Getty 3 Three big Prem clubs passed up on the chance to hire him in 2023 Credit: Getty Enrique's exciting young side tore Inter Milan to pieces at Munich's Allianz Arena. The Serie A giants were no match for the French champions, who ran out emphatic 5-0 winners. It was Enrique's second Champions League winners medal, after guiding Barcelona to the crown a decade ago. And some Prem clubs may be wondering what could have been after passing up on the Spaniard. Advertisement READ MORE ON FOOTBALL STREET BATTLE Chaos erupts in Paris as riot cops clash with PSG fans at victory parade Enrique publicly expressed his desire to work in England in 2023, admitting: "I have a special attraction - I would like to go to England to work. "I follow English football a lot, more than Spanish football. "In the Spanish league, I do follow the biggest teams and little else - but it's very difficult for it to happen.' Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham all shortlisted Enrique after he left his role with Spain in 2023. Advertisement BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK But all three decided against hiring the 55-year-old. Tottenham were the most serious contenders, prior to opting for Ange Postecoglou. Mikel Arteta does a Benitez as he rants about xG and tells Luis Enrique 'look at the stats' after bold Arsenal claim It is believed chairman Daniel Levy backed off over a concern that Enrique's spiky temperament made him too similar to former boss Antonio Conte. Advertisement Three other clubs in the EFL have also moved for Enrique and offered him a managerial role. Swansea, Leeds and Aston Villa all wanted the former Spain international to join, per the BBC's Guillem Balague. And even Arsenal were given a tip-off about Enrique - by ex-chief Unai Emery. But the Gunners decided to go another way, with fellow Spaniard Mikel Arteta still in charge at the Emirates. Advertisement The one that got away By DAVE KIDD THERE was one pressing question to ask in the wake of the greatest demolition job in the 70-year history of European Cup finals. What of Luis Enrique's 'Tottenham dream'? After Enrique's Paris Saint-Germain side handed out a 5-0 hiding to Inter Milan in Munich's Allianz Arena on Saturday, the Spaniard confirmed himself as one of the great managers of the modern era It wasn't just that Enrique had secured the Champions League with a second club — ten years after he masterminded Barcelona's victory over Juventus. It was the manner in which he had constructed this young, vibrant, united PSG side in the wake of the French club's 'bling, bling' era of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. Enrique, 55, was strongly linked with vacancies at Spurs, Chelsea and Manchester United in 2023, after leaving his job as Spain's national team manager. Before Tottenham appointed Ange Postecoglou, Enrique was a serious contender, yet there is a belief that chairman Daniel Levy backed off over a concern that his spiky temperament made him too similar to Antonio Conte. Charismatic, tactically astute and an inspirational man-manager, Enrique speaks good English and is a devotee of Premier League football. Yet it's fair to say, after his crowning glory in Bavaria, that Enrique will not be turning up on our shores any time soon. Should Spurs ditch Postecoglou this week, Enrique certainly won't be in the running. After all, he is openly talking of conquering the world with the perennial champions of France. PSG will face Spurs in the European Super Cup in the Italian city of Udine in August — as one of the greatest winners of the Champions League take on possibly the worst winners of the Europa League in what promises to be an epic mismatch. Enrique's PSG contract runs until 2027, club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi would like to extend it, while this team are young enough and good enough to be a dominant force in European football for years to come. Saturday was an emotionally-charged night for Enrique, whose bond with PSG supporters was strengthened by their unfurling of a vast tifo showing a picture of him and his late daughter Xana, who tragically died from bone cancer aged just nine in 2019. His team's brilliant performance had been the most complete by any side in a Champions League final since Guardiola's Barca defeated Manchester United 3-1 in a Wembley masterclass in 2011. PSG were the youngest team in the competition, Simone Inzaghi's Inter the oldest — and the match turned into the comprehensive street mugging of a frail, elderly victim. That five-goal winning margin eclipsed the 7-3 victory of Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo Di Stefano's Real Madrid against Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960 — a match played so long ago that Sir Alex Ferguson watched it at Hampden Park as an awestruck teenager. Enrique, known as The Architect in the French capital, has plotted plenty of English doom this year. PSG defeated Manchester City in the group phase, followed by knockout victories over Liverpool on penalties, Aston Villa and Arsenal. After semi-final success against Mikel Arteta's Gunners, Enrique mocked the supposed low standing of France's domestic league. 'The league of farmers, no?' he smiled, 'We are the league of farmers.' There has been nothing even faintly agricultural about PSG's football and Enrique is determined to stick around to harvest more silverware. While the world's finest players rarely operate in England at their peak, our top-flight has played host to every other modern managerial great. Three more men have led two different clubs to the Champions League crown in the 21st Century — Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola — and all have plied their trade in England, along with other A-listers like Jurgen Klopp and Conte. Instead, Enrique headed to Paris, where, despite billions of Qatari oil money having been lavished on the project, the Champions League remained elusive. Enrique's re-imagining of PSG as a young side without Galacticos but with plenty of team spirit has turned out a triumph, although another shedload of cash has been spent. This season's signings of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, Joao Neves and Willian Pacho — all stars of the final — cost the Qataris almost £200million. Doue was the two-goal hero, Enrique substituting him when he looked on course to become the first player in 56 years to score a hat-trick in a European Cup final. And when Kvaratskhelia sprinted back more than half the length of the pitch to win possession, with ten minutes to go, having just fired PSG into a 4-0 lead, Enrique's PSG makeover felt complete. It is impossible to have imagined Mbappe, Messi or Neymar doing anything similar. And so for Enrique, the idea of managing Spurs — or any other Premier League club — is just going to have to wait. Enrique has thrived since returning to club management with PSG in 2023. He had previously spent five years as Spain's national manager. Enrique has won back-to-back Ligue 1 and Coupe de France titles in France. Known as The Architect in the French capital, he has helped bring about plenty of English doom over the course of the last year. Advertisement PSG defeated Manchester City in the group phase, followed by knockout victories over Liverpool on penalties, Aston Villa and Arsenal. And he is now a hero among PSG supporters after delivering a first Champions League trophy. Fans unveiled a tifo at the Allianz Arena of Enrique's daughter Xana, who died in 2019 aged nine from bone cancer. Visibly moved, Enrique said: "It's lovely from the fans, and for my family. Advertisement "But I don't need to win a Champions League to remember my daughter. "She's always present, with us. I feel it when we lose, too, it crystallises all the positives we lived."
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Luis Enrique was rejected by Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea and snubbed three English clubs including SWANSEA
LUIS ENRIQUE has yet to manage in England - but there's been no shortage of opportunity. The Spaniard, 55, guided Paris Saint-Germain to a maiden Champions League triumph on Saturday night. 3 3 3 Enrique 's exciting young side tore Inter Milan to pieces at Munich's Allianz Arena. The Serie A giants were no match for the French champions, who ran out emphatic 5-0 winners. It was Enrique's second Champions League winners medal, after guiding Barcelona to the crown a decade ago. And some Prem clubs may be wondering what could have been after passing up on the Spaniard. Enrique publicly expressed his desire to work in England in 2023, admitting: "I have a special attraction - I would like to go to England to work. "I follow English football a lot, more than Spanish football. "In the Spanish league, I do follow the biggest teams and little else - but it's very difficult for it to happen.' Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham all shortlisted Enrique after he left his role with Spain in 2023. But all three decided against hiring the 55-year-old. Tottenham were the most serious contenders, prior to opting for Ange Postecoglou. Mikel Arteta does a Benitez as he rants about xG and tells Luis Enrique 'look at the stats' after bold Arsenal claim It is believed chairman Daniel Levy backed off over a concern that Enrique's spiky temperament made him too similar to former boss Antonio Conte. Three other clubs in the EFL have also moved for Enrique and offered him a managerial role. Swansea, Leeds and Aston Villa all wanted the former Spain international to join, per the BBC's Guillem Balague. And even Arsenal were given a tip-off about Enrique - by ex-chief Unai Emery. But the Gunners decided to go another way, with fellow Spaniard Mikel Arteta still in charge at the Emirates. The one that got away By DAVE KIDD THERE was one pressing question to ask in the wake of the greatest demolition job in the 70-year history of European Cup finals. What of Luis Enrique's 'Tottenham dream'? After Enrique's Paris Saint-Germain side handed out a 5-0 hiding to Inter Milan in Munich's Allianz Arena on Saturday, the Spaniard confirmed himself as one of the great managers of the modern era It wasn't just that Enrique had secured the Champions League with a second club — ten years after he masterminded Barcelona's victory over Juventus. It was the manner in which he had constructed this young, vibrant, united PSG side in the wake of the French club's 'bling, bling' era of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. Enrique, 55, was strongly linked with vacancies at Spurs, Chelsea and Manchester United in 2023, after leaving his job as Spain's national team manager. Before Tottenham appointed Ange Postecoglou, Enrique was a serious contender, yet there is a belief that chairman Daniel Levy backed off over a concern that his spiky temperament made him too similar to Antonio Conte. Charismatic, tactically astute and an inspirational man-manager, Enrique speaks good English and is a devotee of Premier League football. Yet it's fair to say, after his crowning glory in Bavaria, that Enrique will not be turning up on our shores any time soon. Should Spurs ditch Postecoglou this week, Enrique certainly won't be in the running. After all, he is openly talking of conquering the world with the perennial champions of France. PSG will face Spurs in the European Super Cup in the Italian city of Udine in August — as one of the greatest winners of the Champions League take on possibly the worst winners of the Europa League in what promises to be an epic mismatch. Enrique's PSG contract runs until 2027, club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi would like to extend it, while this team are young enough and good enough to be a dominant force in European football for years to come. Saturday was an emotionally-charged night for Enrique, whose bond with PSG supporters was strengthened by their unfurling of a vast tifo showing a picture of him and his late daughter Xana, who tragically died from bone cancer aged just nine in 2019. His team's brilliant performance had been the most complete by any side in a Champions League final since Guardiola's Barca defeated Manchester United 3-1 in a Wembley masterclass in 2011. PSG were the youngest team in the competition, Simone Inzaghi's Inter the oldest — and the match turned into the comprehensive street mugging of a frail, elderly victim. That five-goal winning margin eclipsed the 7-3 victory of Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo Di Stefano's Real Madrid against Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960 — a match played so long ago that Sir Alex Ferguson watched it at Hampden Park as an awestruck teenager. Enrique, known as The Architect in the French capital, has plotted plenty of English doom this year. PSG defeated Manchester City in the group phase, followed by knockout victories over Liverpool on penalties, Aston Villa and Arsenal. After semi-final success against Mikel Arteta's Gunners, Enrique mocked the supposed low standing of France's domestic league. 'The league of farmers, no?' he smiled, 'We are the league of farmers.' There has been nothing even faintly agricultural about PSG's football and Enrique is determined to stick around to harvest more silverware. While the world's finest players rarely operate in England at their peak, our top-flight has played host to every other modern managerial great. Three more men have led two different clubs to the Champions League crown in the 21st Century — Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola — and all have plied their trade in England, along with other A-listers like Jurgen Klopp and Conte. Instead, Enrique headed to Paris, where, despite billions of Qatari oil money having been lavished on the project, the Champions League remained elusive. Enrique's re-imagining of PSG as a young side without Galacticos but with plenty of team spirit has turned out a triumph, although another shedload of cash has been spent. This season's signings of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, Joao Neves and Willian Pacho — all stars of the final — cost the Qataris almost £200million. Doue was the two-goal hero, Enrique substituting him when he looked on course to become the first player in 56 years to score a hat-trick in a European Cup final. And when Kvaratskhelia sprinted back more than half the length of the pitch to win possession, with ten minutes to go, having just fired PSG into a 4-0 lead, Enrique's PSG makeover felt complete. It is impossible to have imagined Mbappe, Messi or Neymar doing anything similar. And so for Enrique, the idea of managing Spurs — or any other Premier League club — is just going to have to wait. Enrique has thrived since returning to club management with PSG in 2023. He had previously spent five years as Spain's national manager. Enrique has won back-to-back Ligue 1 and Coupe de France titles in France. Known as The Architect in the French capital, he has helped bring about plenty of English doom over the course of the last year. PSG defeated Manchester City in the group phase, followed by knockout victories over Liverpool on penalties, Aston Villa and Arsenal. And he is now a hero among PSG supporters after delivering a first Champions League trophy. Fans unveiled a tifo at the Allianz Arena of Enrique's daughter Xana, who died in 2019 aged nine from bone cancer. Visibly moved, Enrique said: "It's lovely from the fans, and for my family. "But I don't need to win a Champions League to remember my daughter. "She's always present, with us. I feel it when we lose, too, it crystallises all the positives we lived."
