Champions League: ‘This is crazy, magnificent,’ Desire Doue

Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the first time in their history as Luis Enrique’s brilliant young side outclassed Inter Milan on Saturday in the most one-sided final ever. Teenager Desire Doue, 19, stole the show, scoring twice and setting up the opener in an astonishing 5-0 win. 

The result was the biggest winning margin in a final, eclipsing AC Milan’s 4-0 win over Barcelona in 1994. AC Milan had also recorded a 4-0 win against Steaua Bucuresti in the 1989 European Cup final — the predecessor of the Champions League, while Bayern Munich had also beaten Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the same competition back in 1974.

“I don’t have the words. Thanks to the Parc [des Princes, PSG’s home stadium], thanks Paris. A dream has become reality. It’s just magnificent. It’s crazy, I’m so happy,” said an overjoyed Doue. 

PSG players celebrate with the UEFA Champions League trophy on Saturday. Pics/AFP, Getty Images

Achraf Hakimi, playing against his former club, gave PSG the lead in the 12th minute via a tap-in from close range after Doue found space in the box and squared it for the right-back.

Eight minutes later, Doue doubled PSG’s advantage as his shot from the right side of the box was deflected into the net. He again in the 63rd minute, beating Inter custodian Yann Sommer at the near post after being sent through by Vitinha.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia got in on the act in the 73rd minute after being released by Ousmane Dembele down the left. 13 minutes later, 19-year-old substitute Senny Mayulu made it five by playing a one-two in the box with Bradley Barcola before lashing a shot past a hapless Sommer. 

“On my first day at the PSG campus, I said the ultimate goal for me as a coach was to fill the trophy cabinet. The only trophy missing was Champions League. And we’ve ticked that box. We were ambitious, and we did it. It’s in the bag and it’s coming home with us tomorrow,” said an ecstatic Enrique after PSG became the ninth team to win a treble. 

The Spanish coach dedicated the triumph to his late daughter, Xana, who passed away from cancer in 2019 at the age of nine. “She’s always in my heart. She’s supporting me, and our family, and I feel her presence,” said the PSG boss after feeling the love from fans who unveiled a tifo displaying Enrique’s daughter planting a flag bearing the club’s emblem in the turf — recalling what she had done when Enrique won the UCL with Barcelona in 2015.

Meanwhile, his Inter counterpart Simone Inzaghi said there was “too much disappointment and bitterness” to make a call on his future. this defeat for Italians capped a wretched end to their season as they also lost the Serie A title by one point to Napoli.

09
No. of teams to win a treble (2 domestic + 1 int’l title in one season); PSG are the latest to do so

How Luis Enrique’s PSG created history

. 12th min: Vitinha splits Inter’s defence with a fine pass to Desire Doue who relays it square for Achraf Hakimi to tap in…1-0
. 20th min: Doue receives a pass from Ousmane Dembele and hammers it towards goal only to see it go in after an ugly deflection off Inter’s Federico Dimarco…2-0
. 63rd min: Dembele flicks the ball back cleverly for Vitinha who storms ahead before setting up Doue to score again…3-0
. 73rd min: Dembele breaks through the Inter defence to send Khvicha Kvaratskhelia through and he calmly slots it past Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer…4-0
. 86th min: Senny Mayulu comes off the bench to score after playing a quick one-two with Bradley Barcola to finish off in style…5-0

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