Latest news with #CupWinners'Cup
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Qatar-backed PSG's united approach puts them on brink of European glory
PARIS (Reuters) - Paris St Germain are on the brink of a maiden Champions League title, chasing European glory in their first campaign since the departure of France striker Kylian Mbappe, but street-wise Inter Milan stand between them and history in Saturday's final. Luis Enrique's Ligue 1 champions, backed by owners Qatar Sports Investments, have been impressive in Europe with a cohesive brand of football that marks a clear departure from the star-driven, sometimes disjointed squads of PSG's recent past. The focus on unity, tactical discipline and collective effort has drawn widespread plaudits ahead of their showdown with Inter, who eliminated Barcelona after a thrilling semi-final, in European club soccer's biggest match of the season. "They (PSG) buy into their coach's game plan, you can see it, and it shows in everyone's activity," former PSG coach Luis Fernandez, who led the club to their only European title in the Cup Winners' Cup in 1996, told Reuters. "No-one's playing the star, even though they're all stars, and I admire that." Since Qatar Sports Investments took control of the club in 2011, big-spending PSG have dominated domestic football but have fallen short in Europe, with their only previous Champions League final ending in defeat by Bayern Munich in 2020. Fernandez believes this year's squad represents a refreshing shift in approach. 'This is the best collective we've seen at PSG since the Qatari era began -- the one I like the most, and the one I keep praising,' he said. Fernandez highlighted the camaraderie and mutual trust forged within the group after a decade dominated by marquee signings and high-profile exits. "This team has the special quality of genuinely liking each other, appreciating one another — they're a group of friends," he said. "They position themselves intelligently, make the effort together and no-one resists what the coach asks of them." KEEPERS' FINAL Luis Enrique, who took charge last year, said his team had long targeted this moment, which comes after they won the domestic double of Ligue 1 and the French Cup. "We've been thinking about this final for a very long time because it's the objective we all share -- and we want to make history with our supporters," the Spaniard said. "We've been preparing for 11 months. There's nothing special to adjust because the team is used to playing this way. It's about managing the pressure and excitement of such a special moment." Inter, battle-hardened and tactically astute under Simone Inzaghi, will likely test PSG's resolve, particularly at set pieces — one of the few areas where Fernandez sees vulnerability in the French champions. "On set pieces, where PSG show a slight weakness, they'll need to be very careful. In open play, PSG are certainly the better side,' he said. PSG enter the final with no injury concerns, while Inter fullback Benjamin Pavard and striker Lautaro Martinez are expected to be fit for the Serie A runners-up. "My wish is to have everyone available on Saturday evening," Inzaghi said. "We're going to approach the final in the best possible way." Inter won the Champions League in 2010, after also lifting the European Cup in 1964 and 1965, while Olympique de Marseille are the only French club to have won the trophy, back in 1993. While this year's finalists have displayed attacking brilliance, the match could be decided by the goalkeepers - PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma and Inter's Yann Sommer. "If you look at the Champions League winners over the last 10 or 15 years, practically, it's always the teams with strong goalkeepers who win," former Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "And if we look at the season, Donnarumma and Sommer have been the top goalkeepers in Europe. Maybe Gigio (Donnarumma) was the absolute best, but Sommer showed an impressive consistency in maintaining his very high level of performance. It will also be a final of goalkeepers." (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Qatar-backed PSG's united approach puts them on brink of European glory
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Paris St Germain v Arsenal - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - May 7, 2025 Paris St Germain's Marquinhos celebrates with teammates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra/File Photo REUTERS PARIS - Paris St Germain are on the brink of a maiden Champions League title, chasing European glory in their first campaign since the departure of France striker Kylian Mbappe, but street-wise Inter Milan stand between them and history in Saturday's final. Luis Enrique's Ligue 1 champions, backed by owners Qatar Sports Investments, have been impressive in Europe with a cohesive brand of football that marks a clear departure from the star-driven, sometimes disjointed squads of PSG's recent past. The focus on unity, tactical discipline and collective effort has drawn widespread plaudits ahead of their showdown with Inter, who eliminated Barcelona after a thrilling semi-final, in European club soccer's biggest match of the season. "They (PSG) buy into their coach's game plan, you can see it, and it shows in everyone's activity," former PSG coach Luis Fernandez, who led the club to their only European title in the Cup Winners' Cup in 1996, told Reuters. "No-one's playing the star, even though they're all stars, and I admire that." Since Qatar Sports Investments took control of the club in 2011, big-spending PSG have dominated domestic football but have fallen short in Europe, with their only previous Champions League final ending in defeat by Bayern Munich in 2020. Fernandez believes this year's squad represents a refreshing shift in approach. 'This is the best collective we've seen at PSG since the Qatari era began -- the one I like the most, and the one I keep praising,' he said. Fernandez highlighted the camaraderie and mutual trust forged within the group after a decade dominated by marquee signings and high-profile exits. "This team has the special quality of genuinely liking each other, appreciating one another — they're a group of friends," he said. "They position themselves intelligently, make the effort together and no-one resists what the coach asks of them." KEEPERS' FINAL Luis Enrique, who took charge last year, said his team had long targeted this moment, which comes after they won the domestic double of Ligue 1 and the French Cup. "We've been thinking about this final for a very long time because it's the objective we all share -- and we want to make history with our supporters," the Spaniard said. "We've been preparing for 11 months. There's nothing special to adjust because the team is used to playing this way. It's about managing the pressure and excitement of such a special moment." Inter, battle-hardened and tactically astute under Simone Inzaghi, will likely test PSG's resolve, particularly at set pieces — one of the few areas where Fernandez sees vulnerability in the French champions. "On set pieces, where PSG show a slight weakness, they'll need to be very careful. In open play, PSG are certainly the better side,' he said. PSG enter the final with no injury concerns, while Inter fullback Benjamin Pavard and striker Lautaro Martinez are expected to be fit for the Serie A runners-up. "My wish is to have everyone available on Saturday evening," Inzaghi said. "We're going to approach the final in the best possible way." Inter won the Champions League in 2010, after also lifting the European Cup in 1964 and 1965, while Olympique de Marseille are the only French club to have won the trophy, back in 1993. While this year's finalists have displayed attacking brilliance, the match could be decided by the goalkeepers - PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma and Inter's Yann Sommer. "If you look at the Champions League winners over the last 10 or 15 years, practically, it's always the teams with strong goalkeepers who win," former Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "And if we look at the season, Donnarumma and Sommer have been the top goalkeepers in Europe. Maybe Gigio (Donnarumma) was the absolute best, but Sommer showed an impressive consistency in maintaining his very high level of performance. It will also be a final of goalkeepers." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Soccer-Qatar-backed PSG's united approach puts them on brink of European glory
PARIS, - Paris St Germain are on the brink of a maiden Champions League title, chasing European glory in their first campaign since the departure of France striker Kylian Mbappe, but street-wise Inter Milan stand between them and history in Saturday's final. Luis Enrique's Ligue 1 champions, backed by owners Qatar Sports Investments, have been impressive in Europe with a cohesive brand of football that marks a clear departure from the star-driven, sometimes disjointed squads of PSG's recent past. The focus on unity, tactical discipline and collective effort has drawn widespread plaudits ahead of their showdown with Inter, who eliminated Barcelona after a thrilling semi-final, in European club soccer's biggest match of the season. "They buy into their coach's game plan, you can see it, and it shows in everyone's activity," former PSG coach Luis Fernandez, who led the club to their only European title in the Cup Winners' Cup in 1996, told Reuters. "No-one's playing the star, even though they're all stars, and I admire that." Since Qatar Sports Investments took control of the club in 2011, big-spending PSG have dominated domestic football but have fallen short in Europe, with their only previous Champions League final ending in defeat by Bayern Munich in 2020. Fernandez believes this year's squad represents a refreshing shift in approach. 'This is the best collective we've seen at PSG since the Qatari era began the one I like the most, and the one I keep praising,' he said. Fernandez highlighted the camaraderie and mutual trust forged within the group after a decade dominated by marquee signings and high-profile exits. "This team has the special quality of genuinely liking each other, appreciating one another — they're a group of friends," he said. "They position themselves intelligently, make the effort together and no-one resists what the coach asks of them." KEEPERS' FINAL Luis Enrique, who took charge last year, said his team had long targeted this moment, which comes after they won the domestic double of Ligue 1 and the French Cup. "We've been thinking about this final for a very long time because it's the objective we all share and we want to make history with our supporters," the Spaniard said. "We've been preparing for 11 months. There's nothing special to adjust because the team is used to playing this way. It's about managing the pressure and excitement of such a special moment." Inter, battle-hardened and tactically astute under Simone Inzaghi, will likely test PSG's resolve, particularly at set pieces — one of the few areas where Fernandez sees vulnerability in the French champions. "On set pieces, where PSG show a slight weakness, they'll need to be very careful. In open play, PSG are certainly the better side,' he said. PSG enter the final with no injury concerns, while Inter fullback Benjamin Pavard and striker Lautaro Martinez are expected to be fit for the Serie A runners-up. "My wish is to have everyone available on Saturday evening," Inzaghi said. "We're going to approach the final in the best possible way." Inter won the Champions League in 2010, after also lifting the European Cup in 1964 and 1965, while Olympique de Marseille are the only French club to have won the trophy, back in 1993. While this year's finalists have displayed attacking brilliance, the match could be decided by the goalkeepers - PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma and Inter's Yann Sommer. "If you look at the Champions League winners over the last 10 or 15 years, practically, it's always the teams with strong goalkeepers who win," former Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "And if we look at the season, Donnarumma and Sommer have been the top goalkeepers in Europe. Maybe Gigio was the absolute best, but Sommer showed an impressive consistency in maintaining his very high level of performance. It will also be a final of goalkeepers." Allianz Arena Germany PSG Internazionale
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Chelsea wins Conference League to complete set of UEFA titles in liftoff for American owners
Chelsea finally has a trophy to show for the unprecedented levels of spending under its American owners, even if it's hardly one they'd have craved. The English club produced an impressive second-half rally to beat Real Betis 4-1 in the final of the Conference League on Wednesday, becoming in the process the first team to have all four of UEFA's club competitions in its trophy collection. Aside from the 1971 and 1998 titles in the now-defunct Cup Winners' Cup, Chelsea's other European silverware — the Champions League in 2012 and 2021 and the Europa League in 2013 and 2019 — came in the trophy-laden tenure of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. The Abramovich era ended in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Chelsea was bought by a consortium fronted by Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly that has since spent around $1.3 billion on new players in a high-risk move to remodel the squad with mostly young stars. Some of them delivered in the turnaround against Betis, with Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson converting pinpoint crosses from Cole Palmer in the 65th and 70th minutes, respectively, before substitute Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo added more goals in Wroclaw, Poland. Boehly went on the pitch after the final whistle to congratulate Chelsea's players after club captain Reece James lifted the trophy to a backdrop of ticker tape and loud roars from teammates in the middle of the field. "Coming into this competition, it was something we had to win," James said of the Conference League, Europe's oft-maligned third-tier competition. "Next season we go again in the Champions League."
NDTV
2 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Chelsea 'Had' To Win Conference League, Says Captain Reece James
Chelsea captain Reece James said anything other than winning the UEFA Conference League would have been judged a failure after beating Real Betis 4-1 in the final. James came off the bench to help inspire a second-half turnaround as the Blues stormed back from 1-0 down at the break. Goals from Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo secured Chelsea's first trophy since 2021. The English giants were strong favourites for the competition before a ball was kicked thanks to far wealthier resources than their rivals in Europe's third tier tournament. That financial disparity showed as Enzo Maresca's team cruised to glory but James is aware they face a far tougher test when they return to the Champions League next season. "Coming into this competition, it was something we had to win," James told TNT Sports. "Next season we go again in the Champions League." Victory also meant Chelsea became the first club to win all four major UEFA competitions after the Champions League, Europa League and disbanded Cup Winners' Cup. "To be the only team in history (to win all four), it is a great feeling," said Cole Palmer, who helped turn the game with two assists for Chelsea's first two goals. Listen to the latest songs, only on
