On May 7, Hupu News, "Le Parisien" published an interview with Patrick Collette, the former Paris Saint-Germain defender and member of the 1996 European Cup Winners' Cup winner. He felt that Paris was stronger in the Champions League final. However, this game will not be easy because Arsenal is an outstanding team with excellent defensive performance.
Paris Saint-Germain has reached the finals for two consecutive seasons. Have you realized how significant this achievement is?
What Paris Saint-Germain has achieved is unusual and outstanding. Part of this achievement is that a very small proportion of clubs manage to reach the Champions League final in two consecutive years. The key value of the final is to win. However, the level of achievement achieved by this team is so high that it is amazing and speechless! Just a few months ago, we would have never imagined that they would reach the finals for the second consecutive season. What I want to express is: pay tribute! We are witnessing the miracle of the development of French football.
Dembele’s goal gave the game a good start…
That is an ideal situation for Paris Saint-Germain. Bayern must score three goals if they want to advance… From a psychological perspective, the goal scored this time is undoubtedly a real encouragement for Paris. After all, Bayern will be more open in subsequent defenses and must be more alert to Paris Saint-Germain's counterattack. In this way, it can prevent conceding a second goal.
How do you evaluate Zaire Emery's performance? He has taken over the position occupied by Achraf Hakimi perfectly.
Wow, he is awesome! I'm actually still thinking about whether he would be better if he played on the right than when he played in the midfield! He is really incredible beyond words. This kid is really becoming more and more mature… His condition declined a little bit last season, but now he has reached his peak. He played a very exciting game. From the beginning of the year until now, I have found that his physical fitness is quite strong. During the confrontation, his performance in regaining the ball was really impressive.
How to explain this team's physical advantage?
I don’t know, but it’s really hard to get the impression out of my mind. Thank you Enrique and his team! He knows when to start players and when to rest those players. All situations are managed in a clear and orderly manner, with no signs of disorder. Think back to the list of injured and injured personnel at the beginning of the season… Just tonight, each of them seemed to be a fighter with excellent performance and super combat effectiveness! The most typical example happens to be Ruiz, who returned after an absence of up to four months, and his performance on the field is simply extremely good.
Are you still surprised by PSG's performance?
Well, yes, there is one more thing (a smile appeared on his face as he spoke). On the defensive level, I rarely see them display such a level, which is really surprising. So what kind of unexpected surprises will they bring to everyone next? Witnessing the French team's outstanding performance in this tournament, we are truly very happy and surprised.
Do PSG have a slight advantage over Arsenal in the final?
Of course, Paris Saint-Germain is the favorite to win the championship. But it is the final after all. If we look back on last season, we said that Inter Milan might be a little more favored. However, Paris Saint-Germain is indeed superior. This is not an easy task, after all, Arsenal is a great team, their defense is solid and their strength is still strong. But Paris Saint-Germain can do anything!
We have full confidence in Enrique, he is outstanding because he has led this team to such a high level, I hope they can win the championship trophy and I hope to see it happen in Budapest on May 30th!
Are you in as much pain as the players tonight?
I was so nervous! Watching the live TV broadcast makes people feel more tortured than watching the game on the field! Bayern Munich, that's an extremely good team, I definitely don't mean to disrespect them. However, Paris Saint-Germain's defense can definitely be called flawless. In this area, it is as solid as a copper wall!
The offensive performance in the first round was excellent, but the current state tonight is completely opposite to that. The coach has successfully created a team with the ability to do everything! These players are capable of doing anything! They showed a very heroic performance. They showed a real spirit of unity with each other; in such a collective collaboration situation, no one person appeared to be too prominent, and their running style was impeccable… They are indeed very strong.