Countdown to Saturday
Three days out from the Champions League final against Arsenal and the mood is shifting into full anticipation. This is the biggest match of the season, full stop. Luis Enrique has given the squad 48 hours off to decompress after what sounds like a tense training session – Ilia Zabarnyi reportedly refused to clasp hands with Matvey Safonov during an open session, underlining real geopolitical strains in the dressing room (1). The manager wants heads clear before the final push.
Dembélé and Hakimi back in training
The news you have been waiting for: Ousmane Dembélé and Achraf Hakimi returned to team training and are now expected to start against Arsenal on Saturday in Budapest (2). That is enormous. Two of your most explosive players, both back for the biggest night of the year.
Raya warns about Luis Enrique
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has admitted his side are wary of what Luis Enrique brings to the final. His message: the PSG manager will make this extremely difficult for Arsenal (3). The respect goes both ways – there is a growing sense across Europe that this PSG team, built on pressing and collective defending rather than individual stardom, is different.
Set-pieces could decide it
French analyst Damien Della Santa has flagged set-pieces as the potential deciding factor on Saturday, pointing to Arsenal's William Saliba as a major aerial threat (7). Your defence will need to be switched on from every dead ball. This is the fine-margin stuff that Champions League finals turn on.
Emery sends love to Al-Khelaïfi
Former PSG coach Unai Emery made a point of expressing his happiness for Nasser Al-Khelaïfi: "Je suis tellement heureux pour Al-Khelaïfi" (8). A classy touch from a manager who knows what this final means to the club president and everyone around the project.
Hakimi named in Morocco World Cup squad
Achraf Hakimi has been included in Morocco's squad for the upcoming World Cup, a strong signal that any fitness concerns are behind him (9). He will go straight from the Champions League final into global duty.
Transfer radar: Yan Diomande
PSG are reportedly ready to rival Liverpool for Yan Diomande's signature (10). One to watch once the final is done – but for now, all eyes are on Budapest.
Fan-reaktioner
The fanbase is buzzing with a sentiment that has not been common in Paris for years: this squad finally feels like a real team, not a collection of big names. The pressing, the defensive unity, the collective buy-in – supporters are noticing something genuinely different about this group. Fans are also scrambling to find the best spots to watch the final, with one supporter heading to Lyon asking about fan zones and the local rivalry vibe. See the discussion here