PSG's Marquinhos not going down without a fight against Inter
MUNICH, Germany : Paris St Germain captain Marquinhos knows what it is like to lose a Champions League final and is not going to let a second chance slip without a fight when they face Inter Milan in Munich, the Brazilian defender said on Friday.
Marquinhos was a member of the PSG side which lost the 2020 final to Bayern Munich, but has the opportunity for redemption as the club look to secure their first Champions League trophy on Saturday.
"We've been through highs, we've been through lows," Marquinhos told reporters.
"Tomorrow we've got a beautiful opportunity. We could go down in history. This would be great for the club, for the players.
"This is my second chance to win a Champions League final and I'm not going to go down without a fight."
Earlier this season, PSG were in danger of not even making the knockout stages, losing three and drawing one of their opening five games, before squeaking through on the final day of the league phase.
Since then they have gone from strength to strength, wrapping up the Ligue 1 title with six games to spare and winning the French Cup, and the PSG players are now ready to cap their season with the ultimate prize.
"We're going to pull out the performance of a lifetime tomorrow on the pitch because it will be very difficult and actually we've had to fight all season now to get to the final," Marquinhos said.
"We've done everything we can to get to the final of the Champions League. This is the best moment of our season. It's that cherry on the top and it's up to us now.
"We need to take the silverware back to Paris so that we can share this with our fans who have supported us over the season. Time is of the essence now, we're going for the silverware tomorrow and we're going to take it home."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Times
2 hours ago
- Business Times
Asia's coal-reliant steel giants stall green transition: panellists
[SINGAPORE] Asia's steel giants are slowing the global green transition, as top producers China and India drag their feet on decarbonisation amid high costs and weak market demand – stalling progress in one of the world's top-emitting industries. During a panel discussion at Singapore International Ferrous Week last week, Claire Chong, senior analyst at shipbroker Thurlestone Shipping, said the steel industry's carbon-cutting efforts are being 'significantly delayed' largely due to the market's continued preference for cheap, low-grade iron ore over higher-grade alternatives essential for cleaner production. 'In the longer run, we are expected to move towards the higher grades. But right now, we are still not really seeing that demand very significantly… especially from China. I think their emphasis is still on cost-cutting,' she added. China, the world's dominant steel producer accounting for more than half of the global output, has been delaying its decarbonisation commitments. It continues to rely on coal-dependent blast furnaces and prefers cheap, low-grade iron ore over the high-grade variety essential for less carbon-intensive steelmaking. Jitendra Nanda, managing partner at Polish trading firm Balta, noted in a panel discussion that India, the world's second-largest steel producer, imported 5.1 million tonnes of metallurgical coke in 2024, up 35 per cent on the year. While the steel industry is responsible for 10 per cent of human carbon dioxide emissions, about 70 per cent of the global steel today is still produced by coal-fired blast furnaces, said Dr Lars Schernikau, shareholder of Germany-based commodity trading firm HMS Bergbau in his keynote speech last week. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 12.30 pm ESG Insights An exclusive weekly report on the latest environmental, social and governance issues. Sign Up Sign Up Alongside this, tepid demand for premium-priced green steel in Asia and the steep capital outlay required to overhaul production methods are further dimming prospects of cleaning up one of the world's most carbon-intensive industries. Industry players told The Business Times that Chinese buyers, a critical market force, have become increasingly 'price-sensitive' and are willing to buy low-grade ore as long as the price is attractive. This has driven up the supply of low-grade iron ore, and further stalled the already sluggish green transition. Not fired up by other options too Shifting to high-grade iron ore to enable steelmaking with cleaner energy sources, such as hydrogen, is widely seen as a viable path forward. The industry could also reduce emissions by recycling steel scrap through electric arc furnaces and capturing carbon from coal-based blast furnaces. However, China still lacks a carbon market, and the creation of one will not be happening anytime soon, highlighted Rodrigo Echeverri, director of Carbon Research. Since there is no penalty for the emissions, low-grade ore will be around for a long while, he noted. Meanwhile, replacing coal-powered furnaces to facilitate scrap recycling remains a costly hurdle, with the high capital expenditure proving prohibitive for many mills. Zhang Xinzhi, trader at Sino Crown International, pointed out that with Chinese steelmakers projecting declining margins, they are not willing to 'invest in air' and, hence, are delaying high-cost efforts that could result in lower returns. Dilemma is bad news for green goals The same story is being told about India. Amita Khurana, group chief of raw material procurement at Tata Steel, noted that relying on coal is still 'the most economical and optimal' way to produce steel. 'Coking coal is here to stay in the foreseeable future,' she said, highlighting the importance of coal for India's energy security and the need for a balance between decarbonisation and industry survival. Other parts of Asia have also been dealing with challenges related to the green transition. Hiromasa Yamamoto, executive vice-president of Japanese trading firm Hanwa, highlighted that securing a sufficient amount of quality scrap for recycling is another impediment given the current production needs. Meanwhile, the demand for green steel is also insignificant in Asia as major steel buyers are unwilling to swallow the premium prices, which could be more than US$200 per tonne. Yamamoto noted that while demand for green steel is high in Europe, it is still soft in the East, including Japan. He added that no country in Asia, except for Singapore, can afford the premiums for green steel.
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Musetti swings past Rune into French Open quarter-finals
PARIS :Lorenzo Musetti's impressive claycourt season rolled on in style on Sunday when the Italian craftsman downed the talented yet erratic Holger Rune 7-5 3-6 6-3 6-2 to reach the French Open quarter-finals for the first time. World number seven Musetti, who will take on American 15th seed Frances Tiafoe for a place in the last four, adjusted to the Dane's shift to a swashbuckling approach to keep his title hopes alive in a year that has seen him steady his game. For the 10th-seeded Rune, it was yet another failure against a member of the top 10 at a Grand Slam as he was denied a third quarter-final appearance at Roland Garros. "Last night I was dreaming of this match against Holger and I was playing at that level. I need to be very good, and I am really proud of myself tonight," said Musetti. Musetti, who said he has put some order in his game, arrived in Paris having reached at least the semi-finals in all three Masters events this season on clay. He did not disappoint on the Philippe Chatrier court, delighting the crowd with a handful of exquisite shots, notably from his impressive single-handed backhand. "I complain less now, I'm more steady," he said. The 23-year-old made a fast start, breaking in the opening game with a forehand winner before consolidating for a 2-0 lead. The Italian, who came into the match boasting an 11-0 Grand Slam record against players ranked outside the top five, looked sharp early, forcing a break point in the third game before netting a forehand that allowed Rune to steady himself and hold. COMPOSED The opening set remained scrappy, with both players trading breaks as unforced errors piled up on Rune's side of the court. Musetti kept his nose in front, capitalising on Rune's inconsistency to take the first set, with the momentum hinging on whether the Dane could tighten his game. Rune responded well in the second set, adopting a more aggressive approach by charging the net to disrupt Musetti's rhythm. The tactic paid off as the 22-year-old secured a vital break and maintained his composure, sealing the set with a powerful smash to level the match. Errors crept back into Rune's game in the fourth set, allowing Musetti to surge ahead 2-0 as the Italian kept his game tight and composed. Having adjusted to Rune's frequent forays to the net, Musetti began to find his range with a series of precise backhand passing shots. He carved out two break points in the opening game of the third set and converted with a blistering forehand winner, seizing full control of the contest. It was virtually game over when Rune dropped serve again in the fifth game, sending a forehand wide when he had an open court. Musetti wrapped it up on serve with an ace for his first win against Rune in three encounters. Addressing his army of fans in Italian, he said: "To all the Italians who are here in Paris, obviously you've stayed deep into the night, your support was fundamental, it helped me push my limits."
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Pyramids are champions of continent but still second best at home
Soccer Football - CAF Champions League - Final - Second Leg - Pyramids v Mamelodi Sundowns - 30 June Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 1, 2025 Pyramids' Mohamed Chibi celebrates with the trophy after winning the CAF Champions League REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh Pyramids are champions of continent but still second best at home CAIRO - Unfancied Pyramids of Egypt might have been crowned African champions on Sunday, but their Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurcic said they still faced a struggle to assert themselves in their own country. The club - who changed their name, moved to Cairo and won promotion to the Egyptian top flight seven years ago - triumphed in the Champions League with a 3-2 aggregate win over two legs against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa. It was only a second trophy, after Egyptian Cup success last season, for the club in just their second Champions League campaign. They have been seeking to emerge from the shadow of Cairo giants Al Ahly and Zamalek, who have not only dominated Egyptian competition but the Champions League as well. "When I started with the team last season, we played excellent football and had a long run of winning matches in a row but even then, this was not enough to be champion here,' said Jurcic. "This year again, we were very close but you know that Al Ahly is the best club in Africa, they are very good, they are very strong and it's very difficult to compete against a club like them." SUPPORT The 55-year-old Jurcic was delighted that his appeals for support ensured a 30,000-strong crowd at Sunday's decider in the June 30 Stadium, usually largely empty for their games, where they won the second leg 2-1. Cairo's passionate football followers traditionally support either Al Ahly or Zamalek, with little affection for any of the other sides based in the city. 'I'm very grateful for the crowd that came today,' he said after lifting the trophy. 'Usually we get to the stadium 90 minutes before kickoff and there is noone here. 'It's disheartening for the players, and I find it's my job to transmit positive energy to try and get them up for the matches,' Jurcic added. The former Croatia international, who played for his country when they finished third at the 1998 World Cup, patrolled the touchline like a man possessed, jumping up and down and cajoling his players throughout the 90 minutes of action. 'I believe that I can transmit my energy in a positive way, and I think that we can be competitive in the future with all the best teams in Egypt. 'But whether we can stay a force is something to see in the future,' he added. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
