Latest news with #Mbappe
Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
'Everybody was surprised' – How PSG moved on from Mbappe to become UCL finalists
There were many questions as to how Paris Saint-Germain would fare without Kylian Mbappe, but Luis Enrique's side have come up with all of the answers so far Many thought Kylian Mbappe's departure would be a disaster, but Paris Saint-Germain have stood tall. The prodigal French striker allowed his contract to run down, before departing the capital to join Real Madrid last summer as a free agent. His exit marked the end of a glitzy era, where PSG signed the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Sergio Ramos and Mbappe, without ever winning the Champions League. PSG were planning for his exit, while he was still at the club, bolstering their squad with a transfer outlay of 16 players, 12 of which were under the age of 25. With Luis Enrique given full freedom to apply his philosophy, their ascent from glitzy, European chokers to Champions League favourites has been breath-taking. Even former PSG midfielder and Champions League winner with Real Madrid, Claude Makelele was surprised by the improvement. In an exclusive interview with Mirror Football, speaking on behalf of bet365, Makelele said: "Kylian Mbappe is a quality player. But in football, you cannot calculate these things. "I think since Mbappe has been gone, Paris Saint-Germain have not been under as much pressure. They have had time to build different platforms within the team and, slowly, slowly, they have grown. "People have not focussed as much on them, they have focussed on Real Madrid, Mbappe and the story and it has worked out in a good way for PSG. They've had the time, but when they arrived, everybody was surprised. "But Paris Saint-Germain have got great quality, great players and deserve to be in the final.' Watch our full Champions League final interview with Paul Ince and Claude Makelele here For a long time, many teams felt they would stop PSG if they controlled Mbappe. Now opposing defenders have to contend with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, Bardley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele running at or behind them. That quartet have contributed 73 goals between them this season, while the likes of Goncalo Ramos and Kang-in Lee have also shared 24 goals. One of their few transfer misses has been the signing of French international Randal Kolo-Muani, who has only scored 11 goals in 54 appearances since his £76.4m move from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2023 - in January, the forward was loaned to Juventus. After losing three and drawing one of their first five Champions League matches in the league phase, PSG roared back with dominant victories against RB Salzburg, Manchester City and Stuttgart, before a 10-0 aggregate demolition of Brest in the knockout phase play-off showed they meant business. Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal all fell before Enrique's young guns. However, Inter Milan is a completely different challenge for the Parisians, as their heavily experienced team have already knocked out one young and dynamic side in Barcelona. But Makelele feels this team are ready for the challenge, as a result of the players that have been brought in during Enrique's project. The Chelsea legend added: "I think they've (PSG) corrected many mistakes they made before. "Of course, we all dream about a team with a lot of big players, but many teams they cannot deal with this. I think they realised, 'Okay, we will need to build for longer to win these kind of trophies and think in a different way'. "Now, they are achieving success. Teams around the world are taking Paris Saint-Germain seriously. They are a big brand all around the world. "They are starting to play proper football and they are achieving success. The only trophy waiting for them is the Champions League. It's not easy to win, but they have this opportunity. For me, this game is 50/50." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
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First Post
13 hours ago
- Sport
- First Post
Champions League Final: Mbappe-less PSG look more balanced, hungry and capable, but Inter are dogged and experienced
Paris Saint-Germain enter the Champions League final without former star Kylian Mbappe, but this version of PSG appears more cohesive, focused, and determined. Yet standing in their way is an Inter Milan side rich in experience and tactical grit. read more 188 games of pure theatre, of pitting the very best against the very best, of countless hours and moments of jaw-dropping action, and it has all come down to this. The final of the UEFA Champions League (UCL). Between a team that has spent oodles of cash to stand atop the pedestal but has never been there, and a side many felt had run their race when they came to within ninety minutes of winning the entire thing in Istanbul a couple of years ago. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Much of the discourse for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) last summer was around Kylian Mbappe's departure. PSG could have sulked. They could have thrown their toys out of the pram. Wondered when or if they will ever be able to experience the excitement and ecstasy of being the best in the continent. More from Football PSG a better unit in absence of Mbappe But PSG did not do anything of that ilk. Instead, they buckled down. And on Saturday, they will play the game that matters in European club football. All while their continental rivals, including Mbappe now, watch in envy. PSG have more bases covered and have become a more refined unit this season. Mbappe remains perhaps the premier point-of-difference on the planet, but he was often criticised for not putting in the hard yards defensively and for not rolling up his sleeves, especially when push came to shove. In his absence, Luis Enrique has created, arguably, the best pressing team in Europe. PSG's pressing has been scintillating and has suffocated several teams into submission, with the forwards' increased work-rate leading to lesser gaps appearing. It is, in fact, no coincidence that the only two times they have not made the quarter-final (at least) since the 2019-20 season, were the two campaigns when they had Lionel Messi, Neymar and Mbappe in the side. Their quality is undeniable, but the lack of work rate often stuck out in big, high-pressure games – something this current iteration has steered well clear of. Their current front line, comprising Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele, are great at interchanging positions too and have infused PSG's attack with more variation and with another dimension. With Mbappe in the side, that would not happen as often, due to his tendency to stay high and wide on the left. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ousmane Dembele has proved to be a huge success at PSG after leaving Barcelona. Image: Reuters The midfield trio of Fabian Ruiz, Joao Neves and Vitinha are similarly flexible. Each of them can act as the deepest of the midfield triangle, and each is adept at floating into forward areas. Full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes are not shabby either, with their buccaneering runs from deep often a feature of PSG's attacking patterns. And if they stumble into trouble, they have an Italian wall named Gianluigi Donnarumma to bail them out. In many ways, PSG are what Inter Milan have been for a number of years. In the 21st century, the Milan-based outfit has made the UCL final only thrice, and in each of those campaigns, their solidity and commitment to prioritize the team's interests over those of individuals, has stood out. This season, their success has been built on a sturdy defence (surprise, surprise). They have conceded only 11 goals in the UCL, which, if you do the math, comes out to less than a goal-a-game. Inter have been incredibly clinical too, especially as the tournament has run deeper. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Inter have flexibility and experience Against Barcelona in the semi-final, Inter made the most of their opportunities, ultimately , despite having an Expected Goals (xG) tally of less than 3.5. This aspect could be particularly key in the final because PSG, for all their improvement, are still a side prone to giving up chances, especially in quick transition situations and when under the pump. Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram have dove-tailed beautifully up front for Inter, with their wing-backs and Nicolò Barella adding to their dynamism and attacking threat. They have also been to a UCL final far more recently and in a contest of fine margins, that experience could come in handy, against a side nervous about climbing the final rung of the ladder. Enrique and PSG, though, from the moment the season began, have believed. That they could do something special and go where no PSG team has ever gone previously. And with each passing UCL match-day, of PSG either defying odds or flexing their muscles, or through a combination of both, the world has started to believe in it too. Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez poses a big threat to PSG's sometimes leaky defence. Image: Reuters Now, PSG stand at handshaking distance from their holy grail. An evening away from giving the city of love the romance of a footballing fairy tale, and to turn the city of lights into a wild melange of partying, tangoing and of realizing their collective dream. All after years and years of hurt, heartache and heartbreaks. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Inter, though, will not make it easy for them. Because, well, this crowing jewel has eluded them for a while too. They may have whetted their UCL appetite previously, but that hunger has not been satiated since that glorious evening in Madrid in 2010, and remains unsatisfied as they head into Munich fifteen years later. One of these teams, undoubtedly, will have history in the palm of their hands: Inter, by winning it for the first time in what has felt like an eternity; PSG, by winning it for the first time after what has actually been an eternal and everlasting wait. But the other, as cruel as it may sound, will return home with that crestfallen and caving feeling of regret and what might have been. This is what you get in the ultimate European club football game: a dizzying prize, accompanied with the danger of steep, sinking jeopardy. All garnished with sub-plots to get immersed in, narratives to get hooked on to, and stories to rejoice, relish and then reminisce in years to come. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This is how a Champions League final should look and feel like. And this is how a Champions League final - for two teams craving a novel chapter in their footballing folklore - ought to be.
Gulf Today
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Wily Inter aim to stop PSG juggernaut in CL final
Favourites Paris Saint-Germain have their sights fixed on finally winning the Champions League trophy but a rugged and battle-hardened Inter Milan side stand in their way in Saturday's final in Munich. The climax to the European season has thrown up a mouthwatering clash of opposing styles and ideas of how to build a team. It is a contest between one of the continent's old guard and one of the state-owned modern superclubs. Despite enormous spending, PSG have never won the most glamorous prize in European club football and this is just their second final since the transformative Qatari takeover of the team from the French capital in 2011. In 2020, during the pandemic, they lost the final to Bayern Munich behind closed doors in Lisbon, despite the presence of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar up front. Adding an ageing and unmotivated Lionel Messi to that front line took them further away from European glory than at any point in the last decade and their thrilling run to Munich has come in the season after Mbappe followed the South American superstar duo out of the exit door. Mbappe thought a move to last year's Champions League winners Real Madrid would improve his chances of getting his hands on the trophy. Instead Luis Enrique's thrilling young Paris side — average age under 24 — has taken Europe by storm. When they last came to Munich in November and lost 1-0 to Bayern, they were in danger of being knocked out during the league phase in the first season since the competition's new format was introduced. A brilliant comeback win in January against 2023 champions Manchester City was the catalyst for a superb run as PSG eliminated three more Premier League sides — Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal — en route to the final. Ousmane Dembele has been the standout with 33 goals in all competitions, ably assisted by fellow forwards Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola and January signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Others like Achraf Hakimi, formerly of Inter and perhaps the world's best full-back, and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma have also been superb for the French league and cup double winners. 'We know what kind of football we want to play and now we just need to go out and do it to our full potential,' said their Spanish coach, who is looking to win his second Champions League title, a decade after leading Messi's Barcelona to glory in Berlin. 'It is always very difficult to get to the final of the Champions League. All players and coaches dream of playing in it but most don't get the chance. 'We want to be the first ones in Paris to win the Champions League and make history.' That, remarkably, would make them just the second French club to win the competition — if they are looking for an omen then Marseille's 1993 triumph also came in Munich, across the city at the old Olympic Stadium, and against Inter's city rivals AC Milan. Inter, meanwhile, are bidding to win a fourth European Cup to add to back-to-back triumphs under Helenio Herrera in the 1960s, and the 2010 victory against Bayern in Madrid, under Jose Mourinho. Coach Simone Inzaghi was already in charge when the Nerazzurri got to the final two years ago and lost narrowly to City. As many as eight of the team that started that night in Istanbul could do so again here, where Inter have also already played this season. Inzaghi's side beat Bayern in the quarter-finals before getting the better of Barcelona in the last four in one of the all-time great Champions League ties, especially the epic second leg in the rain at San Siro. 'To really make history we have to win on Saturday,' said Inzaghi, whose likely starting line-up will feature three players aged 36 or over. Inter will set up in a 3-5-2 formation that contrasts sharply with the 4-3-3 of PSG, and it will be fascinating to see how they respond to losing out to Napoli for the Serie A title on the last day of the season. 'We know that it will be difficult, we know that we're facing a super team just like Barcelona and Bayern Munich but they will come up against a team which has the same goal as PSG. All we can do is try put in a great performance in the final,' he added. Agence France-Presse
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Champions League title has remained agonizingly out of reach for PSG. That could be about to change
MUNICH, Germany (AP) — Billions of dollars have been spent. Some of the world's greatest players have come and gone. But the Champions League title has remained agonizingly out of reach for Paris Saint-Germain. That could be about to change. The Qatari-owned team is one game away from European club soccer's most prestigious prize, with Inter Milan standing in the way in Saturday's final in Munich. PSG is the favorite, with one of the most exciting teams in Europe, having produced thrilling performances to beat Manchester City and Liverpool on the way to the final. It feels like its time has finally come. But in Inter it faces a wily opponent that is in its second final in three seasons and cut down a rampant Barcelona in an epic semifinal - winning 7-6 on aggregate. The warning signs are there for PSG. A shift in strategy PSG's run to the final has justified a shift in direction that saw it move away from the bling culture of superstar signings to focus more on young French talent. Owned by Qatar Sports Investments since 2011, PSG has signed some of the biggest names in soccer, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi without ever getting its hands on the trophy it craves most of all. But the team has yet to win European club soccer's biggest prize, the Champions League. Messi, Neymar and Mbappe have all gone in recent years and without those iconic figures PSG looks a more complete team than ever. But that has still come at some cost. Players like Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were signed for an estimated $240 million combined and they are just part of a squad that has been assembled at a spectacular expense. Inter has been savvy in the market - signing older players and picking up free agents to put together a team that has reached two Champions League finals in three years — losing to Man City in 2023 — and one Italian title in that time. Near misses This isn't the first time PSG has got to within touching distance of the Champions League. It was a losing finalist in 2020 - beaten 1-0 by Bayern Munich. It was a semifinalist last year and also in 2021. But back-to-back years of elimination in the round of 16 in 2022 and '23 preceded the decision by president Nasser Al Khelaifi to change his transfer strategy. Three-time winner Inter has come closer in recent years, including the 1-0 final defeat to City. This year's final is only the second time since 2011 the Italian club has advanced beyond the round of 16. Inter last won the Champions League in 2010 under Jose Mourinho. Star players Dembele has been one of the outstanding players in Europe this season with 30 goals in all competitions for PSG, including a run of 24 in 18 games from December to March. Kvaratskhelia was signed from Napoli in January and sparked a turnaround in PSG's fortunes in the Champions League when it looked in danger of being eliminated at the league stage. The Georgian forward was long considered one of the brightest talents in Europe before making the move and has added another dimension to an-already thrilling PSG attack. Midfielders Vitinha and Joao Neves are the engine room - hungrily hunting down the ball when out of possession and then springing attacks with the speed of their passing. World Cup winner Lautaro Martinez is Inter's standout player and became the club all-time leading scorer in the Champions League this season. Defender Denzel Dumfries played a huge role in beating Barcelona with two goals in the first leg at the Nou Camp and goalkeeper Yann Sommer pulled off a string of saves to keep Inter in the tie in the second leg. The coaches A Champions League winner with Barcelona in 2015, Luis Enrique has also won 12 major titles in spells with the Catalan club and now PSG. If French champion PSG triumphs on Saturday he would become the seventh coach to win the Champions League or European Cup with two different teams. The list includes the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola and Mourinho. Simone Inzaghi is hoping to win his first Champions League title at the second time of asking after defeat to City two years ago. Then, as now, Inter was the underdog, but came close to upsetting Guardiola's all-conquering City. Inzaghi cannot match Enrique's trophy count, but has impressed at Inter where he won the Italian title last year and has also won two Italian Cups. Inter finished runner-up this season and missed out on back-to-back titles Inzaghi also won the Italian Cup with former club Lazio. ___ James Robson is at ___ AP soccer:
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Wily Inter aim to stop PSG juggernaut in Champions League final
MUNICH: Favourites Paris Saint-Germain have their sights fixed on finally winning the Champions League trophy but a rugged and battle-hardened Inter Milan side stand in their way in tomorrow's final in Munich. The climax to the European season has thrown up a mouthwatering clash of opposing styles and ideas of how to build a team. It is a contest between one of the continent's old guard and one of the state-owned modern superclubs. Despite enormous spending, PSG have never won the most glamorous prize in European club football and this is just their second final since the transformative Qatari takeover of the team from the French capital in 2011. In 2020, during the pandemic, they lost the final to Bayern Munich behind closed doors in Lisbon, despite the presence of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar up front. Adding an ageing and unmotivated Lionel Messi to that front line took them further away from European glory than at any point in the last decade and their thrilling run to Munich has come in the season after Mbappe followed the South American superstar duo out of the exit door. Mbappe thought a move to last year's Champions League winners Real Madrid would improve his chances of getting his hands on the trophy. Instead Luis Enrique's thrilling young Paris side -- average age under 24 -- has taken Europe by storm. When they last came to Munich in November and lost 1-0 to Bayern, they were in danger of being knocked out during the league phase in the first season since the competition's new format was introduced. A brilliant comeback win in January against 2023 champions Manchester City was the catalyst for a superb run as PSG eliminated three more Premier League sides -- Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal -- en route to the final. Ousmane Dembele has been the standout with 33 goals in all competitions, ably assisted by fellow forwards Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola and January signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Others like Achraf Hakimi, formerly of Inter and perhaps the world's best full-back, and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma have also been superb for the French league and cup double winners. "We know what kind of football we want to play and now we just need to go out and do it to our full potential," said their Spanish coach, who is looking to win his second Champions League title, a decade after leading Messi's Barcelona to glory in Berlin. "It is always very difficult to get to the final of the Champions League. All players and coaches dream of playing in it but most don't get the chance. "We want to be the first ones in Paris to win the Champions League and make history." That, remarkably, would make them just the second French club to win the competition -- if they are looking for an omen then Marseille's 1993 triumph also came in Munich, across the city at the old Olympic Stadium, and against Inter's city rivals AC Milan. to be continued Inter, meanwhile, are bidding to win a fourth European Cup to add to back-to-back triumphs under Helenio Herrera in the 1960s, and the 2010 victory against Bayern in Madrid, under Jose Mourinho. Coach Simone Inzaghi was already in charge when the Nerazzurri got to the final two years ago and lost narrowly to City. As many as eight of the team that started that night in Istanbul could do so again here, where Inter have also already played this season. Inzaghi's side beat Bayern in the quarter-finals before getting the better of Barcelona in the last four in one of the all-time great Champions League ties, especially the epic second leg in the rain at San Siro. "To really make history we have to win on Saturday," said Inzaghi, whose likely starting line-up will feature three players aged 36 or over. Inter will set up in a 3-5-2 formation that contrasts sharply with the 4-3-3 of PSG, and it will be fascinating to see how they respond to losing out to Napoli for the Serie A title on the last day of the season. "We know that it will be difficult, we know that we're facing a super team just like Barcelona and Bayern Munich but they will come up against a team which has the same goal as PSG. All we can do is try put in a great performance in the final," he added.
