The final is here
Saturday evening in Budapest. Arsenal. The Champions League trophy. You go into this one as holders, with the chance to do something no PSG side has done before, win it back-to-back. Every source this week points to a squad that is confident and ready (1) (2). The tension around the open training session incident between Ilia Zabarnyi and Matvey Safonov earlier this week? Luis Enrique gave the squad 48 hours off to reset. Whatever fractures existed, the focus now is singular.
Luis Enrique: make history and keep making it
Speaking ahead of the final, Luis Enrique laid out the mission in his own words, "marquer l'histoire et continuer à la marquer": make history and keep making it (3). He wants this group to be remembered not as one-time winners but as the best team in the world, and he has told them as much. The confidence in the camp is genuine, the internal friendly this week saw injured players return, and the mood is one of conviction rather than anxiety (2).
Marquinhos: you never forget the taste
The captain knows what this feels like. "Wenn du es einmal geschmeckt hast …", once you have tasted it, you want more (4). Marquinhos has been the voice of that hunger all week. He also made a point of singling out Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for praise ahead of the final, calling them players who can decide any match (5). That is the kind of belief you want radiating from your captain on the eve of the biggest game in club football.
Fan reactions
The mood among supporters is electric but not without gripes, UEFA's decision to move the final kick-off to 5pm has drawn sharp criticism, with many fans calling it a move that hurts match-going supporters in favor of broadcast revenue. The 5pm slot means a more rushed pre-match experience in Budapest, and plenty of PSG fans are vocal about it. Read the full debate on r/soccer.
