Charlie Christie: Paris St-Germain proved there is life beyond all-time greats with ‘breathtaking’ Champions League final performance against Inter Milan - Match was in stark contrast to Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur
The quality between the two recent European finals, the Europa League and the Champions League, could not have been more contrasting.
The all-English affair in the Europa final between two of the country’s biggest spending clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United was a real let down and was indicative of why both clubs finished the season in the bottom six of the Premiership table.
The lack of pace, guile and cutting edge from both sides was apparent and the outcome has led to further questions regarding manager Ruben Amorim’s future at Old Trafford.
His talisman, Bruno Fernandes, was unable to influence the game and when he’s not influential then United are simply not the same team.
Meanwhile, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou fulfilled his promise that he would deliver silverware in his first two seasons – a comment that brought huge media attention and for which he was much maligned, but he managed to prove his doubters wrong by winning the club’s first European trophy in 41 years.
Whether this will be good enough to keep him in a job waits to be seen as many of the White Hart Lane faithful want a change given that 17th place finish in the EPL and open style of play that saw them lose 22 of their 38 league matches.
Read: Inverness Caledonian Thistle exit administration after creditors and club members vote to approve company voluntary agreement (CVA).
Then, 10 days after that lacklustre Europa final, I sat down to watch the pinnacle of European club football: the Champions League final.
After their incredible last gasp semi final win over Barcelona, Inter Milan faced Paris St Germain in Munich’s Allianz Arena and were quite simply swept aside.
PSG dominated from the off and once they opened the scoring after just 12 minutes, they went on to outclass Simone Inzaghi’s side with a superb display.
Whilst they were a pleasure to watch in possession with their pace of play and movement it was their work rate when out of possession which caught my attention.
Every PSG player pressed with a purpose and Inter Milan, the oldest side in the competition, could not cope – and, when they inevitably won the ball back, Luis Enrique’s players did not slow the game down.
They drove forward and provided a constant supply to their incredibly talented front three of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and teenage sensation Desire Doue.
It was quite simply a breathtaking display from currently the best club side in Europe and proved once and for all that there is life after Mbappe, Neymar and Messi.