MUNICH :The following is reaction after Paris St Germain thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final in Munich on Saturday.
PSG coach Luis Enrique: “I think making history was a goal from the start of last season. I really felt a connection with the players and the fans, a very strong connection that we saw throughout the season. We were able to handle the tension and excitement in the best possible way.”
PSG forward Desire Doue: “I have no words. That was just incredible for me, simply incredible. I have no words, sorry.”
“He’s (Luis Enrique) been here for two years and he has made history for the club. Tactically and mentally, he is a really good coach, unbelievable, and as a human being too. It is a pleasure to work with him. I don’t know how we’ll celebrate but it’s going to be crazy.”
Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi: “We finish with zero titles, but we were very good anyway. Future? We’ll see in the next few days with the club. After a final like this – the second one lost in three years – there’s too much disappointment to try to think. There will be time to talk about it calmly with my club, which was with us again tonight and is always present.
“It absolutely didn’t feel like my Inter out there — and the players are the first to know it. But I’m proud of the journey we’ve taken. Tonight we faced a stronger team who deserved to win the Champions League.
PSG midfielder Vitinha: “It means everything. The fans are the main reason we wanted to win this trophy but we wanted it for a lot of reasons. It’s our dream, it’s my dream and I’m glad we made it.
“The win says a lot about this group of players. It’s a very good team and the result is not by magic. Now we are going to celebrate.”
PSG defender Marquinhos: “It’s a mix of joy, of all the emotions we’ve spent together. I’ve suffered but I’ve grown up with this team. I think of all the players who have come through and not succeeded. My idol Thiago, Lucas, Zlatan, Cavani, Di Maria. So many players who have come through here who deserved this and didn’t succeed. Now we’re here and we’re bringing it home. I’m thinking of all the supporters who have been with us, those at the Parc and those around the world. I love you, enjoy it and we’re going to enjoy it here. This is the best day of my life. My family have been with me and have been through this with me… When we arrived, nobody believed we could go this far. It’s been 12 years of hardship and suffering. I value this title too much, it’s with us and we’re bringing it home, I’m so happy.”
PSG defender Achraf Hakimi: “We have made history, we have written our names in the history of this club. For a long time this club deserved it, we are very happy. We have created a great family.”
“He (Luis Enrique) is the man who has changed everything at PSG. Since he came here, he has changed the way football is seen. He is a loyal man, he deserves it more than anyone else.”
PSG forward Ousmane Dembele: “It’s pride. It’s exceptional. Playing in a Champions League final and winning in style. Winning 5-0 against a team like Inter Milan is difficult. Our confidence grew from match to match.
“We knew that in this final we’d have to bring out the big game, great Paris St Germain. There’s a lot of competition in this team, which means you have to give 100 per cent, otherwise you’re replaced.”
Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella: “There’s a lot of disappointment because the image that remains erases the great journey we had. I’m super proud of this team, of what we put on the pitch. In the end, what stays in the history books are the trophies, but I’m really happy to be part of this team.”
“Today, we have to congratulate our opponents, who wanted it more than we did. The first thing I said in the dressing room was that it hurts, and we’re all disappointed, but that’s football: you hope never to take a beating, but sometimes they come.”
