Latest news with #UefaChampionsLeague
IOL News
12 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
PSG lead new revolution rooted in youth, unity and smart spending
Paris Saint-Germain's Desire Doue, centre, celebrates with Joao Neves and Marquinhos after scoring PSG's third goal during the Uefa Champions League final against Inter Milan in Munich on Saturday night. Photo: AFP Image: AFP The revolution in Paris that led Luis Enrique's team to Uefa Champions League glory for the first time is being echoed across Europe, as even clubs that once embodied the Galácticos-era have abandoned efforts to 'buy' the top prize in European football. The PSG coach is now reaping the plaudits for building an energetic, youthful and dynamic team that is mesmerising to watch. It is built on teamwork and unity of purpose, rather than relying on the individual brilliance of former megastars, such as Kylian Mbappé, Neymar or Lionel Messi. Youngsters like Désiré Doué, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Bradley Barcola and Senny Mayulu have Paris fans salivating at the prospect of years of European dominance. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The change in direction at PSG, majority-owned by Qatari government-backed investment fund Qatar Sports Investments, is not unique. Barcelona won La Liga with a modestly priced squad — by their former lofty standards — and an increasing reliance on young, homegrown talent. Even the pioneers of the Galácticos-era, Real Madrid, are no longer throwing 'silly money' at the world's best players. Then again, they don't need to — playing at the Bernabéu remains the dream of countless players, particularly those nearing the end of their contracts. The relatively slow pace of deals announced so far in the current transfer market may indicate a more cautious approach to player recruitment, even among teams with clear squad gaps. The need to abide by financial fair play rules may be a factor, but it does not entirely explain the shift in mentality. Kylian Mbappe left PSG for Real Madrid. His former team seem to have only got stronger since his departure. Image: Ander Gillenea / AFP In England, traditional big spenders Manchester City recently withdrew from the race for Germany international star Florian Wirtz, citing an unrealistic price tag. That has left the door open for champions Liverpool, who are reportedly closing in on a deal worth more than £100 million for one of the most in-demand players in Europe. There was a time when such high-profile signings were considered the exclusive preserve of only a handful of clubs, but the times are changing. City also made no blockbuster signings during the January transfer window, despite being one of the more active clubs historically. Newcastle United are yet to fully flex the financial muscle of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), but that could change with a return to the Champions League for Eddie Howe's overachievers. The party has seemingly not stopped in Paris since PSG won the Uefa Champions League. Photo: AFP Image: AFP
The Citizen
a day ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
PICTURES: The best from the world of sport over the past weekend
PICTURES: The best from the world of sport over the past weekend Here is a selection of the best sporting pictures from around the world over the last weekend. Harold Vorster of the Bulls on his way to scoring a try during their United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against Edinburgh at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. Picture: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images Fez Mbatha of the Sharks is helped over the tryline by his captain Eben Etzebeth during their United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against Munster at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday. Picture: Steve Haag/Gallo Images Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos lifts the Uefa Champions League trophy surrounded by team-mates at the at the Parc des Princes Stadium on Sunday after they beat Inter Milan 5-0 in the final in Munich on Saturday. Picture: Thibaud Moritz/AFP Paris Saint-Germain's players light smoke flares as they parade on a bus on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris a day after they won the Champions League. Picture: Thibaud Moritz/AFP Pyramids' Egyptian defender Ahmed Samy raises the trophy as his team-mates celebrate winning the CAF Champions League final against Mamelodi Sundowns at 30 June Stadium in Cairo on June 1, 2025. Picture: Khaled Desouki / AFP McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri crosses the finish line to win the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo on Sunday. Picture: Albert Gea/AFP Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after beating American Amanda Anisimova in the fourth round of the French Open at Roland Garros Complex on Sunday. Picture: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP Frances Tiafoe of the US serves to Germany's Daniel Altmaier during their fourth round match at the French Open at Roland Garros on Sunday. Picture: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP Team Visma-Lease a Bike's British rider Simon Yates kisses the Giro d'Italia trophy wearing the pink jersey of the overall winner after the 21st and last stage in Rome on Sunday. Picture: Luca Bettini/AFP England's Joe Root celebrates after hitting the winning runs to win the second one-day international against the West Indies at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Sunday. Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP Siyakholwa Kuse (right) and Samuel Salva trade punches during their fight at the Coronation Boxing Tournament at Emperors Palace on Saturday. Picture: James Gradidge/Gallo Images Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia celebrate their victory against Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae of South Korea in their men's doubles final match at the Singapore Open badminton tournament in Singapore on Sunday. Picture: Roslan Rahman/AFP
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Macron condemns ‘unacceptable' violence during PSG football celebrations
France's President Emmanuel Macron (centre) and Paris Saint Germain's Qatari president Nasser al-Khelaifi (right) hold a jersey as the club's defender Marquinhos (left) holds the trophy during a reception at the Elysee presidential palace on June 1. PHOTO: AFP PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron condemned June 1 'unacceptable' violence during celebrations following Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League final victory, as he welcomed the triumphant team to the Elysee palace. 'Nothing can justify what has happened in the last few hours, the violent clashes are unacceptable,' Macron said. 'We will pursue, we will punish, we will be relentless,' he added before congratulating the players on their win. Two people died and police made nearly 600 arrests across France overnight as fans celebrated PSG's 5-0 triumph over Inter Milan in Munich on May 31. 'The violent clashes that took place are unacceptable and have come at a heavy cost: two people are dead, around 30 police officers and several firefighters have been injured,' Mr Macron said. 'My thoughts are also with the police officer in Coutances who is currently in a coma,' he added, referring to the town in western France where a police officer was struck in the eye by a firework. Mr Macron hosted PSG coach Luis Enrique and his team after their victory parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue, thanking the players for their quick condemnation of the violence. 'These isolated acts are contrary to the club's values and in no way represent the vast majority of our supporters, whose exemplary behaviour throughout the season deserves to be commended,' the club said June 1. Fans of PSG celebrate on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on May 31 after their team won the Uefa Champions League final. PHOTO: EPA-EFE Mr Macron also congratulated the team for their 'sublime' victory over Inter Milan. 'You are the champions and you have put Paris at the top of Europe,' he said. 'There were 11 of you on the field, but there was clearly a twelfth man – the entire French public, regardless of traditional allegiances,' Macron said, in a reference to his own loyalty to PSG's rival club Olympique de Marseille. It was the first time PSG has won the biggest prize in European club football. Many of the stars of the team, one of the youngest in the competition, are drawn from the huge football talent pool in the Paris suburbs after PSG's Qatari owners turned their back on the policy of signing star players like Neymar and Lionel Messi. A total of 11.5 million people tuned in across France to watch the match. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Uefa Champions League final: Inter vs PSG who go win?
Di Uefa Champions League final go happun today for di Allianz Arena, Munich. Paris St-Germain go face Internationale wey dey popular as Inter Milan for di final. PSG dey hope to win dia first Uefa Champions League title while Inter dey aim to win dia fourth title. Di name dat time na di European Champion Clubs' Cup and Inter Milan first win am for di 1963/ 1964 season. Dem defend am for di 1964 and 1965 season. Dia most recent win na for di 2009/2010 seasonwen denm beat Bayern Munich 2-0. PSG just dey one game away from making history and for Manager Luis Enrique, di journey to di Champions League final bin start wen di era of ogbonge players for di team end. Kylian Mbappe comot from di club to join Real Madrid last summer. Neymar and Lionel Messi bin also don comot from Paris. Dis movement clear road for PSG to switch strategy under coach Luis Enrique. Enrique bin convince di club President Nasser al-Khelaifi and football advisor Luis Campos say im go fit build a younger, better side. If Enrique win dis trophy for di first time for PSG, e go mean say di Austrian fit make anytin possible. Dem appoint Enrique for July 2023 wey be clear sign say PSG dey comot from di superstar culture. Dis na di first time di two clubs go meet for Champions League and na di second final between teams from France and Italy afta 1992/93 decider wen Marseille beat Milan 1-0 for di Olympiastadion, Munich. PSG bin lose di 2020 final to Bayern München for Lisbon meanwhile Inter Milan don win am three times and di last time dem win am na for 2010. Wetin di coaches dey tok Luis Enrique wey be PSG coach tell Uefa .com say : "We don grown well-well dis season and di players don make progress well-well too. I tink di strength of di team na di most important tin. You learn sometin evriday afta many years of experience as coach, and I dey improve evritime wit dis group. "Wetin dey ginger me na to win di Champions League for di first time wit Paris. I want dis as a gift for di team, for di club, for di city. My team know how to unpick teams like dis and how to get dat tight-knit defence to break up. I dey very optimistic." Simone Inzaghi wey be Inter coach tok say: "Di players dey determined to win; dem no dey obsessed, we no want dat. We dey proud to be Inter. I bin don dream of playing di Champions League final; I no do am as a player, but I thank dis group of players, na dia second time my in three years as a coach. "We need to face Paris knowing say moments wey we go suffer go dey and oda moments wen we go get di ball and dem go need to defend go dey too. Details and moments dey important." Head to head For di France Ligue 1 table PSG win di league while Inter Milan finish 2nd for Serie A. Inter Milan and PSG don meet six times for all competitions. PSG win three, Inter Milan win two and dem draw one. PSG don will all dia last six matches for all competitions while Inter win four out of dia last six matches for all competitions.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
The key battles in the Champions League final
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN are the favourites to win their first UEFA Champions League title when the French club take on Inter Milan in Saturday's final. Here AFP Sport looks at the battles which could define the game at the Allianz Arena in Munich: Achraf Hakimi v Federico Dimarco The final will be a particularly special occasion for Hakimi, PSG's Moroccan right-back who won the Serie A title with Inter in 2021. Hakimi is possibly the best full-back in the world, certainly when it comes to attacking, and he has scored or set up 22 goals this season. But could the space he leaves in behind on his frequent forays forward be exploited by Dimarco, Inter's rampaging left wing-back who has four goals and 11 assists across Serie A and the Champions League? Dimarco has a key role to play in Inter's 3-5-2 formation, in which his attacking contribution is vital. However, he had a torrid time defensively up against Lamine Yamal in the semi-finals, certainly in the first leg in Barcelona. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia v Denzel Dumfries Dumfries does the same job on the right as Dimarco on the left for Inter, with the Dutchman a marauding wing-back who offers so much to his side going forward -- he has scored 11 goals this season, including two in the first leg against Barcelona. But Dumfries will also be charged with the task of muzzling Kvaratskhelia, the Georgian left-winger who joined PSG in January from Napoli having contributed to Antonio Conte's side denying Inter the Serie A title. Kvaratskhelia is a familiar opponent for Inter -- he came up against them six times while at Napoli, but won just one of those games and has never scored past the Nerazzurri defence. Marquinhos v Lautaro Martinez The two captains will go head to head in a South American confrontation between PSG's Brazilian centre-back and Inter's Argentinian forward. At 31, Marquinhos is the oldest player in the PSG team and has been at the club since 2013, when he joined from Roma as a teenager. Marquinhos has therefore appeared in so many painful defeats for PSG in the Champions League over the last decade, and played in the 2020 final loss to Bayern Munich. His experience is precious for a young side, while the 27-year-old Martinez is the main goal threat for Inter having netted 22 goals this season, including nine in Europe. The duo have played against each other four times at international level, including in the 2021 Copa America final, when Martinez partnered Lionel Messi up front for Argentina in their 1-0 victory over Marquinhos and Brazil at the Maracana. Ousmane Dembele v Marcus Thuram Dembele is the leader of the PSG attack, the France winger having been transformed this season by Luis Enrique into a lethal finisher with 33 goals in all competitions. If he can find the net and help PSG to victory, he may well become the favourite for this year's Ballon d'Or. That would be remarkable for a player who in the French national team is principally there to serve Kylian Mbappe, as he was last season at PSG. In Inter's attack, Dembele's fellow France international Thuram is the foil for Martinez. With 18 goals in all competitions, this has been his most prolific campaign to date. Signed by Inter after the 2023 final, now he has the chance to go one further than father Lilian, a Champions League runner-up with Juventus in 2003. Controlling midfield PSG's midfield three sees Portuguese pocket dynamos Vitinha and Joao Neves team up with Fabian Ruiz, the elegant Spaniard whose tireless work rate can almost go unnoticed. Vitinha makes the team tick and is the designated penalty taker. The energetic Neves, signed last summer from Benfica, starts the press and is also surprisingly useful in the air. Ruiz, scorer of a precious goal in the semi-final second leg against Arsenal, is the most experienced of the three. The star in the middle for Inter is Nicolo Barella, who is joined by Turkish international Hakan Calhanoglu, one of the best set-piece takers in world football. Completing the trio is Henrikh Mkhitaryan, a veteran at 36 who made his Champions League debut for Shakhtar Donetsk 15 years ago. He may struggle to last 90 minutes.
