In the Final against Inter: The New PSG Heroes Flex Their Muscles and Take a Dig at Mbappé
- C'MON NOW!*
Counterpunch on Mbappé: The Latest Champions League Heroes of Paris Unveiled - Fresh Faces Earning Heroic Status in Paris's Champion League Victory
Gianluigi Donnarumma, Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) new Champions League hero, couldn't help but throw a jab at Kylian Mbappé after their semi-final win against Arsenal: "The spirit has changed among us. We're now playing much more as a team. We're playing for each other," said the goalkeeper.
PSG, once known as Europe's biggest football spenders, have shown remarkable transformation this season, morphing into a promising Champions League finalist, ready to face Inter Milan on May 31 in Munich. After years of obsessively chasing the coveted trophy since 2011, PSG and its Qatari owners have never seemed closer to achieving it than in this first year without superstars like Neymar, Lionel Messi, or Mbappé.
Led by Coach Luis Enrique, who relies on young talents instead of big names, and the outstanding goalkeeper Donnarumma, the team is ready to take on Italy's champion. "I'll face many of my teammates from the national team. It'll be thrilling," said Donnarumma. "Against Inter, it'll be tough but very beautiful."
Donnarumma, already a veteran at just 26 years old, has accomplished more than many professionals in their entire careers. Debuting in Serie A at 16 and in the national team at 17, he faced the wrath of AC Milan fans when he switched to a sheikh club for an astronomical salary, earning the nickname "Dollarumma." But even in Paris, he felt uncomfortable for years.
Recent years have brought embarrassing blunders—the 2022 Champions League exit against Real Madrid and the March international against Germany—and even calls for his head from French fans and media: "He won't win the Champions League for us!"
But at the stroke of a magic wand, Donnarumma's saves against Arsenal have changed everything. "If you look at who was the best player on the pitch in both games, it was their goalkeeper," said Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta.
And with talk swirling that Donnarumma could flee to Inter in the summer, the semi-final hero said, "It depends on the club. If PSG wants me to stay, I will. We just need to sign the new contract. But it's up to the club."
The club now has new faces like Fabián Ruiz, Achraf Hakimi, Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Désiré Doué (19) in its starting lineup, leaving only one player from the 2020 Champions League final squad remaining: captain Marquinhos. "Disappointments give you experience," said the Brazilian defender. "All those early exits against Borussia Dortmund (2024), Manchester City (2021), or FC Barcelona (2017) have left their mark." Now, with a "new plan," a new DNA, and a new mentality, the team is ready for what's coming next.
- Kylian Mbappé
- Paris
- Italy
- Inter Milan
- Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Jab
- Lionel Messi
- Real Madrid
- Final
- Champions League
- FC Arsenal
- Munich
- Neymar
- Although Gianluigi Donnarumma, PSG's recent Champions League hero, took a jab at Kylian Mbappé after their semi-final win, the team is preparing to face Inter Milan in the upcoming Champions League Final in Munich.
- With the absence of superstars like Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Mbappé, PSG seems closer than ever to achieving the Champions League trophy, a feat they've longed for since 2011.
- Donnarumma, now a seasoned player at the age of 26, savored his standout performance against Arsenal, a game in which he was hailed as the best player on the pitch.
- Amid rumors of his potential move to Inter Milan, Donnarumma said he would stay with PSG if the club wants him to, hinting at a new contract on the horizon.
- Despite their storied history of player acquisitions, PSG's current squad, featuring newcomers Fabián Ruiz, Achraf Hakimi, Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué, and the veteran captain Marquinhos, is ready to show their mettle in the upcoming European football leagues.
