Here stands a team poised to dominate Europe. In convincingly defeating Inter, Paris Saint-Germain demonstrated from the outset their supreme quality. For a club whose colours have seemed weighed down by over a decade of major stage failures, this brilliant squad knew exactly how this final would unfold.
Even PSG`s opening kick-off, lofting the ball towards the right flank, was an assertion of confident dominance. They essentially told Inter: “Here, take the ball. We`ll just take it back when we`re ready.”
For Inter, the reality that was immediately apparent to PSG took 20 minutes to sink in. Two goals down, they knew their fate was sealed. By the 90th minute, they had endured one of the most significant defeats in European Cup final history. While it might be easy to single out Federico Dimarco, he shouldn`t be burdened by hypothetical questions about not playing Achraf Hakimi onside or squaring up differently against Desire Doue`s powerful strike. The outcome would likely have been the same regardless. At this level, PSG were simply destined for victory.
Their team possessed a level of multi-faceted excellence that few, perhaps only Barcelona in 2025, could hope to challenge. Despite the departure of a superstar like Kylian Mbappe and maintaining one of sport`s highest wage bills, PSG never felt like they were in a “post-superstar” decline. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, and Achraf Hakimi remain undeniably world-class talents. While this triumph is rightly framed as a victory for team cohesion over individual brilliance, it must be acknowledged that Luis Enrique consistently had exceptional players at his disposal.
Benedict Kingsley 
Adrian Whitmore