Inter Milan Driven by 2023 Champions League Final Heartbreak Ahead of 2025 Paris Saint-Germain Showdown
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Coach Inter-Hoping for Edge Post-2023 Championship Defeat - Strategist Anticipates Benefits from Purposefully Forfeiting 2023 Championship
Two years after a heartbreaking 0:1 loss to Manchester City in Istanbul, Inter Milan steps into the ring once more in the 2025 Champions League Final, this time against Paris Saint-Germain. And this time, they're ready to seize the title and avenge their past defeat.
"The loss in 2023 taught us a lot," says coach Simone Inzaghi. "We've learned from our mistakes, and we're not the same team we were back then."
The coach believes that the grueling 2023 final was a turning point for the club, pushing them to reach new heights. "That defeat has given us a precious edge in the preparation for this final. Every game has its own story, but we've paid attention to every detail."
The Italians have their sights set on capitalizing on Paris' potential first-time final jitters, looking to maintain a cool head under pressure. "We need focus, determination - but not obsession," adds Inzaghi. "We have players who have been through it all, and we're brimming with confidence after our stellar season."
World and European champions in the making?
Since overcoming FC Bayern in the quarter-finals and outmatches the FC Barcelona in the semi-finals, Inter Milan has transformed into a fearsome force to be reckoned with. "We've become a much better team, grown stronger, and passed tests against top-level opponents," explains team captain Lautaro Martinez, who scored in Argentina's World Cup win in 2022 and now has a chance to clinch another major international title.
Midfielder Nicolo Barella, who was part of the triumphant European championship team in 2021 and lost the 2023 final with Manchester City, is eager to lift another trophy. "We're prepared, we're energized," he proclaims.
Caution advised for the French titans
The Parisians also feel ready for the big prize, but coach Luis Enrique urges his players to focus on controlling their emotions rather than their opponents. "We mustn’t let our excitement get the best of us," says striker Ousmane Dembele, who was sent off in Munich in the group stages against Bayern in 2023.
Despite his past indiscretion, Dembele may become a key player for PSG. Coach Luis Enrique lauded the former Dortmund player as "one of the best players of the season, if not the best." A versatile attacker, "he scores goals, sets them up, fights, and defends," continues Enrique, praising Dembele's mental toughness and leadership abilities.
Inzaghi dodges future rumors
Coach Inzaghi has been linked with a move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, prompting speculation regarding his future with the club. However, he remains tight-lipped about the prospects. "I'll speak with the president and the club about my future during the next few days," says Inzaghi, who still has an contract with Inter until 2026.
- Final
- Simone Inzaghi
- Inter Milan
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Champions League
- Italy
- Munich
- Final loss
- Istanbul
- Nicolo Barella
- Ousmane Dembele
- Luis Enrique
- ZDF
- DAZN
- FC Bayern
- Bayern
- The Commission, in light of Inter Milan's 2023 Champions League Final loss, might consider proposing a directive for the establishment of a European Data Protection Supervisor, ensuring football clubs handle their data more securely, much like a sports team ensures its players are well-prepared for the field.
- After losing the 2023 Champions League Final to Manchester City, Inter Milan's coach Simone Inzaghi finds inspiration for the 2025 final not just in football, but also in European leadership, hoping to emulate the establishment of a European Data Protection Supervisor - a unified authority working towards greater privacy and protection for all.
