PSG’s tireless forwards hold the key to Champions League glory in thrilling clash of styles with Inter Milan, writes MARTIN KEOWN
The Champions League is the Holy Grail of European club football. Paris Saint-Germain are desperate to clinch it for the first time in their history and Inter Milan, one of the great old clubs, have not won it for 15 years.
One by one, PSG vanquished the English clubs this season, beating Manchester City in the revamped league phase before knocking out Liverpool, then Aston Villa and Arsenal. Now only Inter stand in their way.
Football is all about balance and Luis Enrique’s PSG play with a near-perfect balance in their 4-3-3 system, encapsulated by their front three of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue, who work so hard for the team. They may not have the likes of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi any more but the work this new front three do out of possession could see them achieve something those star-studded names never managed in a PSG shirt.
The signing of left winger Kvaratskhelia from Napoli in January was fundamental to their success and his arrival unlocked the best of Dembele, who has scored 25 goals and provided six assists since the turn of the year having scored only eight times this season before that.
They will make Inter suffer with their punishing passing but this Inter team are steeped in Italian tradition — they will fight to the end and they play the back-five system better than anyone in Europe. (Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim will be watching this final with keen interest…)
Inter’s system is flexible. When left wing-back Federico Dimarco pushes high and wide, the defence becomes a back four. They are comfortable on the ball and if you don’t press with the right numbers, they can pass around you with ease.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (left) and Ousmane Dembele (right) could hold the key to a PSG victory
PSG teenager Desire Doue, pictured in Munich on Friday, has also become an important player
Inter Milan left wing-back Federico Dimarco can affect the game at both ends of the pitch
But out of possession, Simone Inzaghi keeps his three centre backs narrow and asks two central midfielders to push out to the flanks. He splits the front two of Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram, who help out defensively in wide areas and force teams to play through the middle.
Dimarco was on a mission to disarm Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal in the semis, celebrating after every tackle and flying up and down the left flank — but he also slid across into midfield when needed to ensure Inter weren’t outnumbered.
In both matches, Dimarco came off just before the hour to be replaced by Carlos Augusto. It became clear in the Barca tie that Inzaghi does not have a preferred starting XI but a favoured first 16. In both games, the same five men came on in normal time to pick up the baton once their team-mates had run themselves ragged.
Inter’s counter-attack is key to their success and centres on their intent to go with pace and confidence to strike a killer blow. They had less than 30 per cent possession in both legs against Barca yet their cutting edge was immense, scoring seven goals from 10 shots on target.
They will need to be even more ruthless against PSG, who won’t play such a high line and have one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Gianluigi Donnarumma, who faced more shots against Arsenal than he had in a game all season but sent PSG to the final with a heroic display.
This is a match for all footballing tastes. Whether you love the fast-flowing, beautiful passing game or you prefer the dogged, hard-to-beat, smash-and-grab approach with men behind the ball, Saturday night’s final will have everything. It will be fascinating to see which style wins out.
