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Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
PSG and Inter Milan have been the standout teams in the Champions League, mixing flair with functionality - the beauty of this final is it is really too close to call, writes CRAIG HOPE
They are Europe's twin pillars of fashion, cities of grandiose, perfume ads and no little chaos. Yet the football clubs of Paris and Milan do not arrive here in the sauna of Munich conforming to cultural stereotype. If anything, they are built as much on the traditions of the country that will play host to Saturday's Champions League final. Paris Saint-Germain and Inter are the right finalists, too. They have been the standout teams in this season's competition. There is flair but with it functionality, in its best sense. Not the obdurate, grind-you-down type. Rather, a competence and strategy that allows the likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele and Lautaro Martinez to stand atop their own side's structure and break down that of the opposition. Like Germany teams of old, this pair are quietly formidable. Leave it to Real Madrid and Barcelona to squabble over their Ballon d'Or favourite, the greatest prize awaits here at the Allianz Arena, Bavaria's luminous cocoon that glows as brightly as the sun on the outside and silverware within. The trophy sparkled pitchside on Friday night as the world's broadcasters took turns to plant it on their velvet pedestals. And the most intriguing aspect of it all? No-one knows who will lift it come sundown. I chatted to Rafa Benitez, a Champions League winner, at Munich Airport on Friday. Edwin van der Sar, a two-time winner, strolled by. Big game, big names. Benitez sided with PSG, and then made an argument for Inter! Having been to both semi-finals, I would share Benitez's instinct, but only just. PSG have undergone a footballing feng shui since I watched them lose to Dortmund in last season's semi, when they could not score over two legs. They are no longer hostage to the ego of Kylian Mbappe, Leo Messi, Neymar and others. Under the bold and brilliant Luis Enrique, the matador has chased the bulls from the ring. There are stars, but they exist in the same orbit as their manager and team-mates. Georgian winger Kvaratskhelia was not only PSG's best attacker in the semi-final win over Arsenal, he was their best defender. It is because of him and the likes of teenage jewel Desire Doue that PSG are, whisper it, likeable. There has not been a great deal of neutral affection in 14 years of their Qatari-bankrolled project, and such fondness might well be the biggest transformation of all. It is hard to believe this is the same team that not so long ago felt like a mood board for petulance, now on the brink of their first Champions League crown. Simone Inzaghi's Inter are worthy of equal respect. Their greatest strength? They find a way to win. In fact, they know no other feeling. In 14 Champions League matches, the Italians have trailed for just 16 minutes. And yet, there is also an endearing jeopardy at times. Catenaccio this most definitely is not. In the quarters and semis, when they were underdogs against Bayern Munich and then Barcelona, the wolf was never far from their door. At least, that is, until Lautaro showed his fangs and chased it away. Is there a more under-rated player in European football? The Argentine's goal here versus Bayern will make the podium for this season's best, a move he started on the centre spot and finished on the penalty spot. He will also be one of only two players on the pitch to have played in a World Cup final and won. The Champions League would complete the game's ultimate double. In the Allianz media room on Friday night, Inter officials asked each journalist which player they would prefer to ask questions of - Lautaro or midfielder Nicolo Barella? Sempre Lautaro! The subject of perception was broached but, curiously, it was the idea of him being appreciated more in Italy than Argentina. Barella, sitting next to his captain, laughed. He knew it would likely irritate his friend. Lautaro seized the chance to hit back. Call it striker's instinct. 'You're the journalist, you tell me!' he snapped, albeit with a smile. 'You're from Argentina. You know the daily grind, what you guys are saying about me. I always think individual achievements are in the passenger seat anyway. The main priority for me is to give what I can to Inter. I've been here seven years, the Italian press see me every day. Maybe that's why they hold more esteem for me. But when I'm back with Argentina, I also get good press, I think!' With his squat stance anchored by calves that make those of Jack Grealish look like cocktail sticks, there is something of the middleweight boxer about Lautaro. He let his tongue land the blows this time. The 27-year-old was on the losing side in this final two years ago, when Inter were beaten 1-0 by treble-chasing Manchester City in Istanbul. Pep Guardiola told Inzaghi afterwards that his team would be back in another final soon enough. Maybe it was one of Pep's slightly patronising consolations - 'Southampton, so, so good' - or maybe he had seen beyond the scoreline and knew that Inter were the better team. And they are, still, a better team than what many believe them to be. It is wrong, too, to pitch this as a clash of styles. Inter have scored 114 goals this season. Across those ties against Bayern and Barcelona, they netted 11 times. The biggest contrast is age. PSG have the youngest average starting XI in the Champions League, at 25, whilst Inter have the fourth oldest at 30.3. But there is a feeling for both that their time is now. This is no dress rehearsal for another day. That much was evident in the centre of Munich on Friday night, where it felt as if an entire continent had converged. The beer halls were perfumed by roast pork and the spilt froth of giant steins that are still too small, but the pervading scent in this sticky, summer air was football. Kvaratskhelia and Dembele shirts sat alongside those of Lautaro and Thuram. The only thing more intense than the heat was the hope. When the rivals bickered, it was never anything more than hop-fuelled claims of which team would win. And that is the beauty of this final - we really don't know the answer. INTER MILAN League Phase Sep 18: DREW 0-0 v Man City Oct 1: WON 4-0 v Red Star Belgrade Oct 23: WON 1-0 v Young Boys Nov 6: WON 1-0 v Arsenal Nov 26: WON 1-0 v RB Leipzig Dec 10: LOST 1-0 v B Leverkusen Jan 22: WON 1-0 v Sparta Prague Jan 29: WON 3-0 v Monaco Knockout Phase Mar 5: WON 2-0 v Feyenoord Mar 11: WON 2-1 v Feyenoord Apr 8: WON 2-1 v Bayern Apr 16: DREW 2-2 v Bayern Apr 30: DREW 3-3 v Barcelona May 6: WON 4-3 v Barcelona (aet) Top Scorers Lautaro Martinez 9 Hakan Calhanoglu 4 Marcus Thuram 4 Manager: SIMONE INZAGHI League titles: 1 Domestic cups: 3 PS. This is the first-ever competitive meeting between PSG and Inter. The last final in which that happened is 2005 (Liverpool v AC Milan). WATCHING BRIEF... Kick-off: 8pm, Allianz Arena, Munich. TV & radio: LIVE on TNT Sports 1, discovery+ (free), BBC 5 Live and talkSPORT. Referee: Istvan Kovacs (Rom).
South China Morning Post
27-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
How Manchester United's 2005 trip to Hong Kong paid off for Van der Sar
While Manchester United's match in Hong Kong this week gives fans a long-awaited first-hand sighting of their idols, Edwin van der Sar has said the club's 2005 visit offered rare insights for him, too. The former goalkeeper said his first Far East tour with United, which began in the city, planted the seed for what he later did after hanging up his gloves in 2011. A playing career highlighted by two Champions League triumphs, a 1998 World Cup semi-final with the Netherlands and eight domestic titles in his homeland and England was followed by a string of successes in the Ajax boardroom. Talking to the Post ahead of United's clash with a Hong Kong XI on Friday, Van der Sar recalled his first overseas match for the Old Trafford club after signing from Fulham: a 2-0 pre-season victory over Hong Kong. United's Dong Fangzhuo challenges Poon Yiu-cheuk of Hong Kong during the 2005 clash. Photo: AP 'It was the latter stage of my career and helped me prepare for my future job at Ajax – I realised there is so much more behind the manager and 11 guys who start the match,' Van der Sar said. 'Also, going to a new club and spending time on tour was a great way to connect with players, staff and my goalkeeping coach. It was a chance to feel the size of the club and number of fans. I always enjoyed being away, meeting supporters and speaking to television.'
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'I don't think it's beneficial to change manager'
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar believes his former club should stick with Ruben Amorim as Red Devils legend, who won four Premier League titles and a Champions League with the club, said that he believes Man Utd should stick to a certain style of play if they want to be successful in the long on BBC Radio 5 Live following United's Europa League final defeat, Van der Sar said: "I think the game itself was not great, but if you win a final you can change the outcome of a season and that is what Tottenham did."I retired 14 years ago, in that time Manchester United have had so many coaches and managers. Some have been successful with trophies, but in the long run I think you need to stick with a manager and a certain style of play. "I think at the moment the hierarchy is clear. You have the Glazers, the 25% ownership from Jim Ratcliffe."The football director has gone after four or five months. At a certain point you need to know what you want to get out of the club, what direction you want to go. So, I don't think it's beneficial to change manager again."
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Europa League final's VIP list revealed as Ballon d'Or winner joins Edwin van der Sar and Ledley King at San Mames stadium - while EIGHT Glazers join Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Daniel Levy
The Glazers have turned out in force to watch Manchester United 's crucial Europa League final against Tottenham on Wednesday night, with eight family members on the stadium's VIP list in Bilbao. The American family shares ownership of Manchester United with British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who will also watch the seismic clash in the exclusive VIP section of San Mames stadium. According to Athletic Bilbao's website, VIP guests are able to enter the stadium an hour and a half before kick-off to soak up the pre-match atmosphere and enjoy a range of luxuries including food prepared by Michelin star chefs. The VIP list, which was acquired by Mail Sport hours before the match, has at least 23 names — ranging from United and Tottenham legends to football executives. In terms of the Glazer family, Avram and Joel are joined by relatives Aerin, Shari, Ed, Jill, Kendall and Libby. Ratcliffe and Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will also watch the match from the premium section. Meanwhile, ex-Red Devils goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and his old team-mate Dimitar Berbatov, who is working as a pundit for TNT Sport during the final, are on the list. Berbatov may have a conflict of interest in terms of the outcome, given he represented both Manchester United and Tottenham during his playing career. Spurs legends Ledley King and Gary Mabbutt are also part of the list, while former Premier League managers Rafa Benitez and Steve Cooper are there too. The FA's president Debbie Hewitt and chief executive Mark Bullingham join Premier League CEO Richard Masters and PFA CEO Maheta Molango on the VIP guest list, alongside Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor and former Irish goalkeeper Packie Bonner, who made almost 500 appearances for Celtic during his playing days. Portugal legend Luis Figo, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2000, is also in attendance. The showpiece in Bilbao is one of the most eagerly anticipated matches of the season and with good reason, given how much the victor promises to gain. Both Manchester United and Tottenham have endured catastrophic campaigns in the Premier League, lying 16th and 17th respectively ahead of the final weekend, and only a victory in the Europa League final will guarantee Champions League football for next season. Champions League qualification aside, the final presents an opportunity for Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou to finish the season with a major honour, with Tottenham having not lifted a trophy since the League Cup way back in 2008. Ex-Red Devils goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar (left) will reunite with old team-mate Dimitar Berbatov (right), who starred for both Tottenham and Man United during his playing career Guests on the VIP list for the Europa League final Sir Jim Ratcliffe Daniel Levy John Textor Edwin van der Sar Dimitar Berbatov Rafa Benitez Steve Cooper Luis Figo Packie Bonner Maheta Molango Richard Masters Mark Bullingham Debbie Hewitt Aerin Glazer Shari Glazer Ed Glazer Joel Glazer Jill Glazer Kendall Glazer Libby Glazer Avram Glazer Ledley King Gary Mabbutt Earlier this week, Amorim admitted he is at a loss over why United fans are still backing him ahead of the Europa League final. The 40-year-old believes one factor in his favour is that he warned the United board a storm was coming when he began the job in November and his prediction has come true. 'I don't know how to explain how the fans like me in this moment,' said Amorim. 'It's hard to explain but I will try to prove myself to the fans and to the board, but I don't have an explanation for you. 'The good thing is I never worry about that. That is a part of being a coach and the most important thing is I know what I am doing and I explained everything when we started. 'I explained about the storm [coming], I explained all the problems we have to the board, so I was so clear and I explained that I will not change my idea.' Meanwhile, Postecoglou urged he will move on from Tottenham without regret should the Europa League final, his 100th game in charge of Tottenham, prove to be his penultimate in the job. 'I've been in this position before where the big game was the last game I managed,' said Postecoglou, sounding resigned to his fate in Bilbao, as he listed teams he had left on a high, including Australia, Celtic and Brisbane Roar. 'It's not unusual territory for me. I qualified for a World Cup and left. Won the Treble with Celtic and left. Won at Brisbane and left. It's actually more common than you think. United manager Ruben Amorim has admitted he is confused why fans continue to back him 'I've always navigated it pretty well. I'm pretty good at just making sure all my focus is on giving this football club the best opportunity it's had for a while to do something special. 'Whatever happens after that, I'm very, very comfortable that I'll continue on trying to win trophies wherever I am.'
