dpa
Berlin
The fact Paris Saint-Germain are in the Champions League final and favourites to win it despite letting Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Neymar leave is no surprise to goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The Qatari-backed club brought in the superstars over recent years to to try to win the European Cup for the first time. But apart from a final defeat to favourites Bayern Munich in 2020, where Mbappé and Neymar flattered to deceive, they never came close until this year.
Fans and pundits have long thought the pursuit of “les galactiques” was at the expense of team harmony. Donnarumma openly agreed after the hosts beat Arsenal 2-1 on the night on Wednesday for a 3-1 aggregate semi-final victory.
“The spirit has changed. We play much more as a team now. We play for each other,” the Italian, who made some stunning saves, told Amazon Prime.
Brazil’s Neymar left PSG for Saudi Arabia in 2023, the same year Messi ended his unhappy two-year spell at the Parc des Princes. Mbappé was the last of the big trio to leave in July for Real Madrid.
Donnarumma said of Mbappé: “I wish him only the best, because he is a good friend. But the team is now tightly knit and it is working well.” Since the France captain’s exit, PSG coach Luis Enrique has moulded a side blending a world-class keeper, dynamic defenders, hard-working midfielders plus young and hungry attackers.
“We have shown this season that we are a real team,” the coach said after riding their luck early on against the Gunners before pouncing when needed.
“We showed no matter the match, that Paris Saint-Germain will fight and will achieve our goal of making history.”
Special final for Donnarumma
Tireless Spain midfielder Fabian Ruiz and rampaging Morocco full back Achraf Hakimi grabbed the classy second-leg goals as the Parisians proved that being from the supposed weakest of the top five European leagues makes no difference.
The front three on Wednesday of January signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué have an average age of just 22. The much-travelled Ousmane Dembélé - who scored the winner in the 1-0 win in London last week - is still only 27.
With the French title long since wrapped up and a Coupe de France final against Reims to come on May 24, Luis Enrique can rotate his team in the coming weeks as he bids for a second treble. He previously achieved the feat with Barcelona in 2015 - ironically with Messi and Neymar in the line-up.
The unlikely Champions League final on Munich on May 31 against Inter Milan will also have special meaning for Italy’s former AC Milan stopper Donnarumma.
“I’m excited, I’ll be up against lots of my team mates from the national team. It will be tough against Inter, but cool,” he said.
The only French team to lift the famous trophy was Marseille in 1993, also against Italian opposition in the form of Milan. That game was also played in Munich, albeit at the old Olympic Stadium as opposed to the Allianz Arena.
PSG fans celebrated reaching the final long into the night, in stark contrast to 2020 where the coronavirus pandemic meant the later stages were played as part of a mini tournament in Portugal - and crucially without fans.
This time one of the most passionate fan bases in Europe will be able to roar on their side in Munich and a special atmosphere is expected.
Next season Paris FC - backed by the Red Bull group - will play in the French top flight after promotion. Their stadium is right next to the Parc des Princes, meaning two bizarre derbies will take place.PSG are favourites with bookmakers to beat Inter Milan in the Champions League final after dispatching Arsenal.
