PSG Versus Inter, Two Sides of Obsession Divide Munich

MUNICH, FRIDAY — For Paris Saint-Germain Head Coach Luis Enrique, the 2024-25 Champions League final feels like deja vu. There are many similarities to ten years ago, when he was in charge of Barcelona. Starting from the final match being held in Germany to the opposing team coming from Italy.

Enrique won the "Big Ears" trophy with Barca after defeating Juventus in the final of the 2014-15 season at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Exactly a decade later, the coach will accompany PSG in the final match against Inter Milan at the Muenchen Football Arena, Sunday (1/6/2025) at 02:00 WIB.

Among the many similarities, there is a very contrasting difference. This can be seen from the PSG squad that reached the final without a megastar player. They are classified as the team with an average age of 25 years, making them the youngest in the knockout stage this season. In contrast, at that time, Barcelona was reinforced by the "MSN" trio, namely Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar.

The difference simultaneously highlights the anomaly of the French giant team. PSG, with a squad filled with young stars such as Desire Doue (19), is actually in its best form in the last decade. They appear more convincing than during the period when they were reinforced by the superstar trio, Kylian Mbappe, Messi, and Neymar.

The secret was revealed by Enrique when he had only been in charge of PSG for a few months in September 2023. "When a club is obsessed with something, it is never good. You have to have ambition, but not obsession," he said of PSG's relationship with the Champions League which always ends badly, to The Athletic.

Speaking of obsession, Inter is somewhat different from PSG. They can be said to be obsessed with returning to the pinnacle of competition, following their failure in the final two years ago. Head coach Simone Inzaghi expressed the extent of his frustration after that failure. "We remember that final as if it happened just yesterday," he stated.

The obsession of the Inter squad is very reasonable. They are so close to the trophy. Lautaro Martinez and his teammates only lost 0-1 to Manchester City in a very tight match. The players feel that they should have performed better at that time. They want to rectify it as soon as possible. The opportunity has come again this season.

Inzaghi aims for the Champions League trophy as the pinnacle of his project achievements over the past four years. Inter, with the oldest average squad age in the tournament at 30 years, is somewhat pressed for time. "We are more mature, as seen in several recent major matches. We know that the final will be very important for our journey," he said.

The majority of Inter players remain the same as the squad in the final two years ago, including Martinez, Nicolo Barella, and Denzel Dumfries. They carry the fire of revenge and curiosity. In contrast, PSG has only defenders Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe remaining from the squad in the 2020 final.

Before Enrique arrived, PSG was very obsessed with success in the Champions League. This had a negative impact as they pursued the prize in an instant manner. The club brought in many star players. However, like cooking, simply combining all the main ingredients into a pot does not immediately result in the most delicious dish.

It is only natural that Enrique adheres to a principle that prioritizes the process. He has redefined the club's strategy. A drastic change has occurred in the transfer policy. Out of 13 players brought in, 10 are no older than 26 years. Instead of focusing on star status, they prioritize player potential and squad needs.

As a result, PSG no longer relies on individuals as they did when led by Mbappe, who departed for Real Madrid at the end of last season. They attack and defend as a cohesive unit. This is what has made PSG's defense recognized as one of the most aggressive in Europe today. No talented player is treated specially like a "golden child."

Ousmane Dembele, the forward for PSG, is the team's goal machine. However, more than that, he also serves as the first line of defense when the team loses the ball. "What we want to do is regain possession (as quickly as possible) from the opponent's territory. Ball possession is the best form of defense," said midfielder Joao Neves.

PSG's aggressiveness as a unit has taken a significant toll. Two giant teams from the English Premier League, Arsenal and Liverpool, are among the casualties. The team coached by Enrique successfully limited both teams, which are almost always dominant in ball possession. Furthermore, PSG's average ball possession throughout the tournament reached 59.6 percent.

Inter sees the dominance of the opposing team as a significant opportunity. PSG plays very offensively, similar to Barcelona. In the semifinals, Inter managed to score seven goals against Barcelona despite only having 28 percent possession. Inzaghi's team was able to overcome the opponent's dominance with quick counterattacks and tight defense.

If likened to boxing, PSG resembles a boxer who throws many punches for points. This is evident from their total of 300 shot attempts, the highest in the tournament. In contrast, Inter is not a boxer that takes many risks, but they can knock down an opponent with a single punch. Meanwhile, Inter's total shot attempts stand at only 174.

PSG does not have a pure center forward or "number 9." They rely on the trio of Dembele, Doue, and Kvaratskhelia, who can interchange positions in the front line. Their attack is flexible and difficult to predict. Meanwhile, Inter has a pair of pure strikers in the duo of Martinez and Marcus Thuram, who have proven to be very sharp.

"They (PSG) are a strong and solid team that excels in both attack and defense. We must be cautious. We need to closely observe their strengths and weaknesses. Above all, we must enjoy the final match. We have been here twice in the last three years, we deserve to win," said Martinez.

Although not favored at the beginning of the tournament, PSG and Inter are the teams most deserving of being in the final match. PSG eliminated all representatives from the world's best league, the English Premier League, from the round of 16 to the semifinals. Inter defeated two perennial champions in the tournament, namely Barca and Bayern Munich.

PSG and Inter will meet in an official match for the first time in Munich later. This duel will create new history for each team. PSG has the potential to secure their first Champions League trophy, while Inter will end a 15-year trophy drought. (AP/REUTERS)