Latest news with #GianluigiDonnarumma
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dembele, Doue among seven PSG players on Champions League team of the season
Paris Saint-Germain strikers Ousmane Dembele was named Champions League player of the season as UEFA on Sunday picked seven of the title-winning side on the competition's team of the season. PSG won the trophy for the first time by thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich on Saturday. Advertisement Dembele, who hit eight goals over the competition, did not score in the final but he provided two assists and his overall performance drew praise from the UEFA Technical Observer Group. "Dembele has taken on the role of a leader in the Paris Saint-Germain team, as we saw in the final with how he worked so hard, pressing from the front," explained the committee. "He created doubts for their opponents match after match with his clever movement, dropping deep to give his team superiority in the midfield." PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and defenders Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos and Nuno Mendes were also in the XI along with midfielder Vitinha and teenage attacker Desire Doue who scored twice and set up another in Saturday's rout. Advertisement The four non-PSG players in the team were defender Alessandro Bastoni of beaten finalists Inter, midfielder Declan Rice of Arsenal and Raphinha, the season's joint top scorer, and Lamine Yamal of Barcelona. "We've made this selection of players, particularly in the attack, to reflect the exceptional mobility which was such a feature of the victorious Paris Saint-Germain team's approach," said the UEFA report. "The forward line selected represents this – a flexible team with attacking players who can interchange positions." Doue, who was not a regular starter as PSG struggled in the group stage of the competition, edged 17-year-old Yamal to the competition's young player award. Advertisement "Doue has been a revelation this season," said UEFA. "He made an incredible breakthrough in the knockout phase, going to the final and producing a Player of the Match performance on Saturday night, becoming the first teenager to score twice in a final." Dembele's award could have an impact on the voting for Ballon d'Or, the annual global player-of-the-year award, which will be presented on September 22. "I'd give the Ballon d'Or to Ousmane Dembele, simply for the way he defends," said PSG's Spanish coach after the victory on Saturday. Yamal, Raphinha and Donnarumma are among other frontrunners for the award. bap-ali-pb/bsp
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
From Galacticos to glory: How Luis Enrique transformed PSG into Champions League winners
PSG's head coach Luis Enrique touches the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match against Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) PSG's head coach Luis Enrique and players Vitinha, left, and Ousmane Dembele look at the trophy at the end of the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno PSG's coach Luis Enrique is thrown into the air by his players as they celebrate winning the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Inter Milan, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP) PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma, Vitinha, Ousmane Dembele and coach Luis Enrique celebrate after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Inter Milan, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Peter Kneffel/dpa via AP) PSG's head coach Luis Enrique celebrates with the trophy after the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) PSG's head coach Luis Enrique celebrates with the trophy after the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) PSG's head coach Luis Enrique touches the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match against Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) PSG's head coach Luis Enrique and players Vitinha, left, and Ousmane Dembele look at the trophy at the end of the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno PSG's coach Luis Enrique is thrown into the air by his players as they celebrate winning the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Inter Milan, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP) PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma, Vitinha, Ousmane Dembele and coach Luis Enrique celebrate after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Inter Milan, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Peter Kneffel/dpa via AP) PSG's head coach Luis Enrique celebrates with the trophy after the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) PARIS (AP) — Luis Enrique got rid of the Galacticos at Paris Saint-Germain and then became one himself. The Spanish coach, or perhaps he should be called an architect or a visionary, orchestrated a 5-0 destruction of Inter Milan in Saturday's Champions League final. Advertisement The match was so clinically one-sided that it resembled a training session against an amateur team, rather than a three-time European Cup winner. Passing, movement, energy. Tireless pressing, forwards dropping back to defend, wingers protecting fullbacks. Was this really PSG? Yes. All of these attributes were on display in Munich as Luis Enrique joined an elite list of coaches to win the Champions League with multiple clubs. His other success was with Barcelona in 2015 — a 3-1 win against Juventus — but Saturday was sweeter. 'This is the time for a great party and to make the most of this moment," Luis Enrique said. "I felt this connection with the players and the fans, I think it was a very strong connection throughout the season. ' Advertisement Before Luis Enrique's arrival at the start of last season, such teamwork and unselfishness were not the hallmarks of PSG. Far from it. PSG had become increasingly complacent with star names like Neymar, Thiago Silva, Lionel Messi, Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kylian Mbappé. All fine players, some even great, yet all came and went without winning Europe's biggest club prize. Consequentially, the impatience of the club's Qatari owners led to a merry-go-round of coaches. When Luis Enrique took charge he boldly went against what PSG's owners had done since taking charge 14 years ago. Advertisement It was no longer about pandering to star power and, even more importantly, it wasn't about who the new coach signed but rather who he sold. Out went Neymar and midfielder Marco Verratti, who made too many headlines off the field amid regular reports about their lifestyle and a penchant for partying. Then, during the offseason, came the biggest jolt of all as Mbappé — the club's record scorer — joined Real Madrid. How would PSG cope in the French league, let alone the Champions League, without a player they had overly relied on for so long? Rather well it turns out, although it took time and courage. Advertisement What were the turning points in PSG's season? On a rainy autumn night in London, Ousmane Dembélé was dropped by Luis Enrique and PSG lost to Arsenal 2-0 in a dismally poor performance. Luis Enrique made it clear he was looking for dedication in his squad and this was non-negotiable, which is why he dropped Dembélé. Critics lambasted his decision and doubts continued as PSG struggled in the new-look Champions League, losing to Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich. As baffling a decision it was to some, it nevertheless showed that Luis Enrique was not going to give in to player power, like so many of his predecessors. Advertisement Instead of demanding a transfer or moaning, Dembélé said nothing. A few months later, he was transformed into a prolific scorer and is now a potential Ballon d'Or winner. The other turning point came on Jan. 22. PSG faced possible elimination from the Champions League group stage if it lost at home to Manchester City, the 2023 champion. The nightmare scenario saw PSG trailing 2-0, with no Mbappé to bail the team out. What happened next ultimately defined their season, as the club's young players took the initiative and turned an inevitable-looking defeat into a 4-2 win. Noticeably, PSG's redesigned attack clicked with four different scorers rather than relying too heavily on one. Advertisement The young guns carried on as a resurgent PSG added to its domestic double with the Champions League title for a remarkable treble — which Luis Enrique first achieved with Barcelona 10 years ago. It was deeply symbolic that PSG's best player against Inter was 19-year-old Désiré Doué, who set up the first goal and then scored twice. Also, there were four different scorers on the night — just like against City. The last PSG goal was scored by Senny Mayulu, a 19-year-old talent who grew up in the northeastern Parisian suburb of Le Blanc-Mesnil. In memory of his daughter Luis Enrique's daughter, Xana, died six years ago at the age of nine. Advertisement When he was asked about his daughter by broadcaster Canal Plus after the match, Luis Enrique pointed to his heart and said: "It's here every day of my life, whether we win or lose.' PSG fans held up a banner with Xana's name after the match, and Luis Enrique changed his clothing to put on a T-shirt of the foundation he started in her memory. ___ AP soccer:
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
PSG player ratings: Doue and Dembele stake Ballon d'Or claims with all-conquering Champions League final displays
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN blitzed Inter Milan to win their first ever Champions League crown. Luis Enrique's side blew Inter away in the first-half and never looked back against their under-par Serie A opponents. 14 Achraf Hakimi scored against his former side to give PSG the lead on 12 minutes. Brilliant wonderkid Desire Doue then added a second after just 20 minutes to put his side firmly in command. Doue added his second shortly after the hour mark, before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Senny Mayulu got in on the act. On a historic night in Munich, here's how SunSport's Dan King rated each victorious PSG star. Gianluigi Donnarumma - 6 A spectator for most of the first half. Whenever Inter had a glimmer of an opening, his defenders shut it down or watched their opponents fail to capitalise. He did not have a save of any kind to make in the first 45 minutes. Pawed unconvincingly at a couple of crosses after the break but still did not make a save until the 75th minute when he got down well to deny Thuram. 14 Achraf Hakimi - 8 Put Inter on the back foot from the start by playing high to wipe out the Italians' apparent superiority in midfield numbers. So it was typical that he was the one waiting when his team-mates picked apart the Inter defence for the first time. Occasionally his ambition threatened to leave his team open, but it never proved fatal. 14 Champions League travel chaos erupts as fans block train and throw rocks and tear gas is deployed on board Marquinhos - 7 The only member of the PSG defence to look a little vulnerable at times in the first half, but even then only for a short while after Marcus Thuram did him for pace. Otherwise formed a solid partnership with Pacho that allowed the full backs, especially Hakimi to push on. Read the game well to make interceptions. 14 Willian Pacho - 9 Let Thuram and Lautaro Martinez know who was boss right from the start. Used his strength and physicality to win balls in the air and to shut doors that were threatening to open. And it was his determination not to let the ball go out for a corner that led to his team's second goal. Made some important interventions as Inter improved (a bit) and kept his concentration and commitment going until the end. 14 Nuno Mendes - 7 Laid down a marker early on by winning a 50/50 ball against Thuram that the Inter striker just didn't want as much. Less ambitious going forward than Hakimi, tucking in to create a back three or a midfield overload. Says a lot that Inter's player of the competition Denzel Dumfries was anonymous. Joao Neves - 8 Worked just as hard as his midfield partners, but on the less glamorous side of the game, without the ball. Used his intelligence to judge when to press and when to block the passing channels as Inter struggled to find any sort of rhythm. The Inter trio Mkhitaryan, Barella and Calhanoglu will be sick of the sight of him 14 Vitinha - 9 Set the tone of the game even before the absolute peach of a pass that found Doue in the box to tee up the opening goal. The little maestro conducted the game, pulling the strings and creating the shapes that stopped Inter's midfield making any impression. Made important challenge in his own box early in the second half then found Doue perfectly for the third. 14 Fabian Ruiz - 8 Spain's Euros-winning midfielder was perpetual motion, popping up all over the pitch and offering his team-mates option after option. One moment he was a centre forward, the next a No 10, then a midfield pivot, then he dropped into centre back to start the play again. Not as energetic and influential in the second half but still a commanding presence who kept Inter in their box. 14 Desire Doue - 9 Kylian who? Liveliest of the PSG front three from the get go, making a nuisance of himself down the right Yet he suddenly popped up at inside left to receive Vitinha's pass and tee up Hakimi. But he found space again on the right to make it 2-0 after Dembele's pass. Humiliated Bastoni in build-up to another Hakimi chance before taking his second goal superbly to kill the game. A career-defining display - at 19. 14 Ousmane Dembele - 9 Started slowly, but gradually became a key figure. Like Ruiz, he was turning up in unexpected places, even appearing at right back on one occasion to retrieve the ball. Worried Inter with his pace and was equally speed in thought to sweep the ball across to Doue for the second goal. Should have made it three when Doue returned the compliment, but his backheel led to Doue's second and his pass to KK's strike. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - 8 Did not quite live up to the Messi and Maradona comparisons on this particular occasion, but still did his bit, sometimes simply by terrifying Inter with what he might do. Outjumped by Thuram for a rare Inter first-half chance, then failed to hit the target with his own header and a couple of chances in the second half. Finally got his goal to make it four but won't mind being outshone by the other two musketeers. SUBS Bradley Barcola (for Doue, 67) - 7 Was always going to be hard to follow Doue's display. But missed a really good chance from the corner of the six-yard box, then dumped Acerbi on his backside with a brilliant bit of skill only to shoot into the side netting. Dragged another shot well wide before fine pass teed up fellow sub Mayulu. Lucas Hernandez (for Mendes, 78) - 6 Did not have much to do, apart from thanking Kvaratskhelia for an incredible bit of tracking back. Goncalo Ramos (for Kvaratskhelia, 84) - 6 The Portugal striker had no time to make the same impression as his compatriots. Senny Mayulu (for Ruiz, 84) - 7 Wonderful finish to make it five and he celebrated properly with virtually every member of the PSG travelling party. 14 Warren Zaire-Emery (for Neves, 84) - 6 Can at least say he was on the pitch for one of the five goals
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
PSG vs Inter Milan player ratings — Who starred in Champions League League final?
Desire Doue, Achraf Hakimi and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia all scored at least once in PSG's battering of Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday, but they were hardly the only ones to earn rave reviews from first to last whistle. PSG 5-0 INTER MILAN — Video highlights, recap & analysis Advertisement Below are the PSG vs Inter Milan player ratings out of 10, plus analysis, as plenty of stars rose to the occasion… PSG player ratings Gianluigi Donnarumma: 7 — How disappointing for Gigi, whose name was being thrown into theoretical Ballon d'Or debates leading up to the final, that he didn't have to make a single save for 74 minutes after sometimes singlehandedly dragging PSG through the knockout rounds. Just kidding, he deserved the rest. Achraf Hakimi: 9 — The way that PSG use Hakimi (and Mendes on the left) is just a nightmare to face. He goes central, he gets all the way forward in attack and now he scores goals in Champions League finals. He's also an incredibly effective presser against the other team's backline, because of where he is on the field. Hakimi a truly unique player that not every coach in the world would fully grasp how to best utilize, but fortunately Luis Enrique is one of the special few and continues to elevate him even more. Marquinhos: 7.5 — Lautaro Martinez, Inter's second-leading scorer lined up on the left, was a total non-factor with just one touch in PSG's penalty area and just three passes into the final third. PSG's press typically puts a ton of strain on their center backs, but it was so successful against Inter that Marquinhos and Pacho spent more time sweeping up than emergency scrambling back toward their own goal. Advertisement Willian Pacho: 7 — Always seems to be in the right place at the right time to make a crucial play, and that's so important for a team that defend as aggressively as PSG do. Nuno Mendes: 7 — A bit more of a defensive assignment, plus whatever effect he felt from the injury that nearly forced him off midway through the first half, but that was the job and he did it well. Vitinha: 8 — There are ball-winning defensive midfielders, and there are ball-playing defensive midfielders. What PSG have in Vitinha is the very best of both, and he absolutely ran the show in the final. Ruben Neves: 7 — Did a ton of the midfield dirty work (as he always does) that allows both Vitinha and Ruiz to operate with more freedom behind and ahead of him. He's already one of the best in the world at 20 years old. Advertisement Fabian Ruiz: 7.5 — Not his most threatening game as an attacker, but a key cog in PSG's press that completely overwhelmed Inter in midfield and put a stranglehold on this game from the very start. Desire Doue: 9.5 — Between the ice-cold finish for his second goal, and the slick turn and pass to assist Hakimi for the opener, the 19-year-old already looks a real bargain after signing for $57 million last summer. Side note: France might be pretty good for a while. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: 7.5 — Deserved his goal for all of the relentless defensive work he did up until that point. One of the best attacking wingers in the world, and he works his socks off without the ball. Anyone noticing a theme yet? Ousmane Dembele: 7.5 — A pair of assists in the Champions League final, to cap off the best goal-scoring season of your career (by a mile)? 21 goals in the league, 8 more in Europe. Ballon d'Or? Inter Milan player ratings Yann Sommer: 4 — Sommer didn't do anything that stood out as a big mistake, but you have to pick the ball out of your net five times in a final and you're never going to be able to forget it. Advertisement Benjamin Pavard: 5 — Kept Kvaratskhelia relatively quiet until he scored in the 73rd minute. Francesco Acerbi: 4 — Unlucky to deflect PSG's second goal and wrong-foot Sommer, but all of the backline was hung out to dry far too many times. Alessandro Bastoni: 4.5 — Couldn't cope with Doue and Dembele running at him, but then who could? Denzel Dumfries: 5 — Almost nonexistent in possession (not through fault of his own), which neutralized any and all ball progression by Inter. Nicolo Barella: 6 — The only one from Inter's midfield that offered anything in the final third. Hakan Calhanoglu: 5 — Of all the players in Inter's team you'd expect to be able to handle a press with the ball at your feet, Calhanoglu wasn't supposed to be one of the ones to struggle. Without the ball, he's simply too much of a passenger. Advertisement Henrikh Mkhitaryan: 4.5 — Of all the players in Inter's team you'd expect to be able to handle a press with the ball at your feet, Mkhitaryan wasn't supposed to be one of the ones to struggle. Without the ball, he's simply too much of a passenger. Federico Dimarco: 4.5 — The one that Hakimi targeted in the press, and a source of so much of what went right for PSG. Marcus Thuram: 5.5 — Had two of Inter's best scoring chances and forced one of Donnarumma's two saves. Lautaro Martinez: 5 — As stated above, a non-factor.
New York Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
How to watch PSG vs. Inter Milan in the 2025 UEFA Champions League Final
Both sides vying for the 2025 Champions League title are well-deserving of a trophy lift. Paris Saint-Germain beat English stalwarts Arsenal and Liverpool to get here. Inter Milan knocked off Bayern Munich, then Barcelona. Saturday's showdown features two prestigious clubs with star attackers and world-class goalkeepers. Advertisement This broadcast will also be on Paramount+. Luis Enrique is on the brink of a second treble. He pulled the first one off in 2014-15 with Barça. Now, his PSG group has already claimed the French Cup and Ligue 1. A win on Saturday would mark just the 11th European treble in the history of the sport. Manchester City was the last club to do it, in the 2022-23 season. Standing in the way is a motivated and seasoned Inter. Eight players remain from Inter's 2023 Champions League final. Simone Inzaghi really needs the win here — his Italian side finished one point behind Serie A champ Napoli and was humiliated by rival AC Milan in the Coppa Italia semifinal. PSG plays with a brisk pace and youthful energy, while Inter provides wily grinding and hard-earned pitch chemistry. Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martínez fashion one of the game's best and most patient striking duos, but Ousmane Dembélé (eight goals this Champions League campaign) headlines the ultra-fast Parisian attack. Paris Saint-Germain is averaging just north of two goals per Champions League outing while conceding just 0.94. Six of those 16 matches resulted in clean sheets from keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Inter's lone loss in this competition came back in December to Germany's Bayer Leverkusen. Yann Sommer has eight clean sheets in Champions League play this season. Last round yielded two classics. Inter won a thriller 7-6 on aggregate against Barcelona. PSG's emergence over Arsenal wasn't quite as wild, but both victories were narrow one-goal affairs. Streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Ousmane Dembélé: Franck Fife / AFP via Getty Images)
