Latest news with #HenrikhMkhitaryan
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
End Of The Road For Ex Man United & Arsenal Veteran + Several Others As PSG Brutally Expose Aging Inter Milan Squad
End Of The Road For Ex Man United & Arsenal Veteran + Several Others As PSG Brutally Expose Aging Inter Milan Squad It looks to be the end of the road for Henrikh Mkhitaryan and several others after PSG ruthlessly exposed Inter Milan's aging squad. This according to today's print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews. Advertisement Inter Milan had the oldest squad in this season's Champions league, at nearly thirty years of age on average. That had not stopped the Nerazzurri from reaching a final. However, once they got there, they faced a team with an entirely different age profile. As the Gazzetta note, PSG's starting eleven had an average age that was five years and 146 days younger than that of Inter. Accordingly, yesterday's final was always going to play out as something of a battle between youth and experience. End Of The Road For Mkhitaryan & Several Others As PSG Expose Aging Inter Squad MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 06: Matteo Darmian of FC Internazionale in action during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Arsenal FC at Stadio San Siro on November 06, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by) Inter may have hoped that their experience would have been their edge against PSG. As it had been against the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona. Advertisement But that was, putting it mildly, not the case. Instead, the Nerazzurri looked downright weary trying to keep up with Paris Saint-Germain, in and out of possession. There was no sign that PSG's players were lacking in confidence or tactical awareness. They were first to nearly every ball, and looked orders of magnitude sharper when they had it. In the view of the Gazzetta, this was evidence that it is time for Inter to move on. Players like Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Francesco Acerbi, and Matteo Darmian have done a great deal for the team over the last few years. But there is no room for sentimentalism or living in the past. It is time for this Inter squad to get younger, hungrier, and more physically fresh and athletic.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Revealed: How Man United and Arsenal flop can make European history in Champions League final
Henrikh Mkhitaryan can etch his name in the history books of European football after Saturday's Champions League final. Inter Milan face PSG in the showpiece event at the Allianz Arena, the latter of whom seek to life the title for the first time ever. Meanwhile, Inter bid to win their fourth in club history. Mkhitaryan has been instrumental in leading the Italian giants to the final, having created the third-most chances of any Inter player throughout the tournament. Not to mention, the 36-year-old has started seven of his side's last eight Champions League games, and has been operated reliably in the five-man midfield of Simone Inzaghi's 3-5-2 setup. Wind back the clock some six years ago and it was all doom and gloom for Mkhitaryan; he watched from home as his former club Arsenal suffered a 4-1 humiliation against Chelsea in the 2019 Europa League final. But the Armenian maestro has enjoyed his football this decade and has breathed new life into his career in Italy. Tonight in Munich, Germany, he has the chance to complete the trifecta of European titles. Having won both the Europa League and the Europa Conference League under Jose Mourinho - in 2017 with Manchester United and 2022 with Roma - Mkhitaryan is yet to lift just one of the three continental trophies. And ahead of tonight's final, the midfielder stressed the importance of experience - but not just his own. Former Man United stars Matteo Darmian and Romelu Lukaku are also veterans of the game and have the chance to stamp their experience down against a young Barcelona side.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Champions League final – Paris Saint-Germain v Inter: live
Update: Date: 2025-05-31T17:00:01.000Z Title: Preamble Content: The two clubs contesting the 70th European Cup / Champions League final are cut from very different types of cloth. Internazionale are European royalty, the defensive masters of the mid-Sixties under Helenio Herrera, the similarly staunch usurpers of 2010 under Jose Mourinho, six-time finalists across the ages. Herrera's team were known as La Grande Inter, which gives us some idea of status. Paris Saint-Germain are parvenus by comparison: the club were minus six years old when La Grande Inter were winning their first European Cup. Just the one unsuccessful appearance in the final for PSG, whose main mark on the competition to date has been historic collapses in earlier rounds. But times change, and they're the favourites today. The teams themselves are a study in contrast too. PSG are a gang of thrusting young bucks: Désiré Doué and Warren Zaïre-Emery are 19, João Neves 20, Bradley Barcola 22, Willian Pacho 23, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia 24. Inter's average age is 31, with 37-year-old Francesco Acerbi at the back and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in midfield a sprightly 36. PSG were crowned French champions nearly two months ago and have been able to grab some R&R since then; Inter are smarting from their failure to win Serie A just last week. Yep, PSG are the favourites today all right. But then look what Inter did to hotly-tipped Barcelona in the semis, and tonight's final in Munich is very much up for grabs. Will Inter win their fourth title? Or will PSG finally get their name on the biggest prize of all, ascending to become European royalty at long last? Kick-off is at 9pm in Munich, 8pm BST. It's on!
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
How ex-Man Utd and Arsenal flop Mkhitaryan can make history in Champions League final as Inter Milan take on PSG
Inzaghi has revealed how Inter can win the final TAKE THE MKHI How ex-Man Utd and Arsenal flop Mkhitaryan can make history in Champions League final as Inter Milan take on PSG Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HE bombed without trace at two of the Premier League's biggest clubs and he was the often-forgotten makeweight in one of most disastrous transfers in the top-flight's recent history. But at the age of 36, Henrikh Mkhitaryan can make European football history by helping Inter Milan to the Champions League crown against Paris Saint-Germain. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Henrikh Mkhitaryan can become the first player to win all three European competitions Credit: Getty 4 He already has the Europa and Conference Leagues to his name Credit: Getty When Alexis Sanchez switched from Arsenal to Old Trafford in January 2018 — a move announced by an infamous social-media video of the Chilean tickling the ivories with 'Glory, Glory Man Utd' — Mkhitaryan moved the other way. And while Sanchez became one of United's greatest flops, Mkhitaryan did not fare much better in north London. The Armenian midfield man was Arsene Wenger's penultimate Arsenal signing — and certainly not among his better ones. Mkhitaryan's two years at Arsenal were frustrating. And they were perhaps best summed up helping Unai Emery's Gunners to the 2019 Europa League final against Chelsea in Baku, but he could not get a visa and missed the match because of political tensions between Armenia and host nation Azerbaijan. Yet if Inter claim the Champions League - Mkhitaryan will become the first player to play an active role in winning the finals of all three existing European club competitions. He both lifted the Europa League and Conference League under Jose Mourinho — with United in 2017 and Roma in 2022 — even though The Special One ditched him in that Sanchez swap deal. The feeling was Mkhitaryan was too lightweight and passive for the Premier League. And while United fans enjoyed his occasional moments of flair, Mourinho took against him. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Yet at Inter his experience and nous make him a key member of Simone Inzaghi's side which narrowly missed out on the Scudetto as well as losing this season's Italian Cup final. They are desperate to avoid a hat-trick of runners-up medals by winning in Munich. Mkhitaryan said: 'I hope experience will count in the final. It's not just me, I have a lot of experienced team-mates.' He is not kidding. In Serie A, they certainly value a good veteran. Mkhitaryan, his fellow former Man Utd player Matteo Darmian, keeper Yann Sommer and defender Francesco Acerbi were all born in the 1980s, which — terrifyingly — makes them old. But Inter defeated Harry Kane's Bayern Munich in the quarter- finals before coming through their epic semi-final goalfest with Barcelona — 7-6 on aggregate. And the bookies are struggling to separate them from a far more youthful PSG side. 4 Henrikh Mkhitaryan is one of many experienced Inter players Credit: Alamy For Inzaghi — whose Inter side ran Pep Guardiola's City close as rank underdogs in this fixture two years ago — tonight is likely to prove his swansong after four years at the San Siro. On the eve of the final, he did little to dampen down rumours of an impending, money-spinning move to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal. Inzaghi, 49, said: 'I will meet the club's senior management and have a chat next week in a very relaxed manner. 'Our decision will have the best interests of Inter at heart. 'But it's hugely exciting before a Champions League final.' The long road to the final began with a 0-0 draw against old foes City in the league stage. Inzaghi added: 'We've shown a great desire ever since matchday one in the group phase at City and against some top opposition like Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and Barcelona. 'Now we are just one step shy. We deserve to be here. "Two years ago we played against Pep's City — who were the best team in the world at that time — and we possibly deserved more. 'We have learned from that and we will use that experience. 'PSG are a high-quality team and they have the best ball possession statistics in the Champions League. 'But we have the most possession in Serie A this season. 'We must keep the ball and use our hard running, desire and experience if we are to bring home the trophy.' Flanked by captain Lautaro Martinez — a World Cup winner with Argentina — and Italy midfielder Nicolo Barella, Inzaghi said: 'I am here with two players who bleed black and blue. They are hugely important players. I have blind faith in both of them. 'I am asking them all for concentration and determination — but not obsession because we need cool heads and free minds. 'We have Champions League and World Cup winners in the squad and we have learned a lot over our four years together.' Martinez, who has netted nine times in this season's Champions League, says the players will dedicate the trophy to Inzaghi if they beat PSG. The striker, 27, said: 'We're pretty relaxed about the rumour, we hear them day in and day out about our players and coach. 'We want to dedicate this trophy to the coach as well as the fans and our families who are with us every day. 'Everything we have achieved is down to the hard work, sacrifice and humility of the team unit.'
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
How ex-Man Utd and Arsenal flop Mkhitaryan can make history in Champions League final as Inter Milan take on PSG
HE bombed without trace at two of the Premier League's biggest clubs and he was the often-forgotten makeweight in one of most disastrous transfers in the top-flight's recent history. But at the age of 36, Henrikh Mkhitaryan can make European football history by helping Inter Milan to the Champions League crown against Paris Saint-Germain. Advertisement 4 Henrikh Mkhitaryan can become the first player to win all three European competitions Credit: Getty 4 He already has the Europa and Conference Leagues to his name Credit: Getty When Alexis Sanchez switched from Arsenal to Old Trafford in January 2018 — a move announced by an infamous social-media video of the Chilean tickling the ivories with 'Glory, Glory And while Sanchez became one of United's greatest flops, Mkhitaryan did not fare much better in north London. The Armenian midfield man was Arsene Wenger's penultimate And they were perhaps best summed up helping Unai Emery's Gunners to the 2019 Europa League final against Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Yet if Inter claim the Champions League - Mkhitaryan will become the first player to play an active role in winning the finals of all three existing European club competitions. He both lifted the Europa League and Conference League under Jose Mourinho — with United in 2017 and Roma in 2022 — even though The Special One ditched him in that Sanchez swap deal. The feeling was Mkhitaryan was too lightweight and passive for the Premier League. And while United fans enjoyed his occasional moments of flair, Mourinho took against him. Advertisement Most read in Football JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Yet at Inter his experience and nous make him a key member of Simone Inzaghi's side which narrowly missed out on the Scudetto as well as losing this season's Italian Cup final. They are desperate to avoid a hat-trick of runners-up medals by winning in Munich. Mkhitaryan said: 'I hope experience will count in the final. It's not just me, I have a lot of experienced team-mates.' Advertisement He is not kidding. In Serie A, they certainly value a good veteran. Mkhitaryan, his fellow former Man Utd player Matteo Darmian, keeper Yann Sommer and defender But Inter defeated Harry Kane's Bayern Munich in the quarter- finals before coming through their epic semi-final goalfest with Barcelona — 7-6 on aggregate. And the bookies are struggling to separate them from a far more youthful PSG side. Advertisement 4 Henrikh Mkhitaryan is one of many experienced Inter players Credit: Alamy For On the eve of the final, he did little to dampen down rumours of an impending, money-spinning move to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal. Inzaghi, 49, said: 'I will meet the club's senior management and have a chat next week in a very relaxed manner. Advertisement 'Our decision will have the best interests of Inter at heart. 'But it's hugely exciting before a Champions League final.' The long road to the final began with a 0-0 draw against old foes City in the league stage. Inzaghi added: 'We've shown a great desire ever since matchday one in the group phase at City and against some top opposition like Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and Advertisement 'Now we are just one step shy. We deserve to be here. "Two years ago we played against Pep's City — who were the best team in the world at that time — and we possibly deserved more. 'We have learned from that and we will use that experience. ' Advertisement 'But we have the most possession in Serie A this season. 'We must keep the ball and use our hard running, desire and experience if we are to bring home the trophy.' Flanked by captain Lautaro Martinez — a World Cup winner with Argentina — and Italy midfielder Nicolo Barella, Inzaghi said: 'I am here with two players who bleed black and blue. They are hugely important players. I have blind faith in both of them. 'I am asking them all for concentration and determination — but not obsession because we need cool heads and free minds. Advertisement 'We have Champions League and World Cup winners in the squad and we have learned a lot over our four years together.' Martinez, who has netted nine times in this season's Champions League, says the players will dedicate the trophy to Inzaghi if they beat PSG. The striker, 27, said: 'We're pretty relaxed about the rumour, we hear them day in and day out about our players and coach. 'We want to dedicate this trophy to the coach as well as the fans and our families who are with us every day. Advertisement 'Everything we have achieved is down to the hard work, sacrifice and humility of the team unit.' 4 Simone Inzaghi says his side have learned from final heartbreak two years ago Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
