PARIS, France — If Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) maiden triumph last year allowed the French club to break their Champions League hoodoo, winning the title again this season would allow them to be remembered as one of Europe’s all-time great teams.
Twelve months after crushing Inter Milan, 5-0, in Munich to take the trophy with the biggest win in the final in European Cup history, PSG head to Budapest to face Premier League champions Arsenal.
Stopping Luis Enrique’s thrilling PSG side has proven impossible for everyone over the last 18 months, from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to Bayern Munich in their recent semifinal clash.
Arsenal tried, and failed, in last season’s semis, and the Parisians are the favorites to retain their title this time.
“We understand that we are the reigning champions, and we can win again,” Khvicha Kvaratskhelia said in an interview with UEFA.
“Of course, this will be difficult, but we’ve proved once more that we can beat any team as long as we play our way and give our all on the pitch,” added the Georgian winger, surely the best player in this season’s Champions League with seven goals and three assists in the knockout rounds.
When Luis Enrique, a Champions League winner with Barcelona in 2015, arrived in 2023, PSG were transitioning away from the era of splashing vast sums on superstar players. AFP
