Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Monday, Jun 16, 2025

Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point

The UEFA Champions League final has always been a competitive match—until last night. Paris Saint-Germain demolished Inter Milan five–nil in a surreal, one-sided, and unprecedented blowout. It wasn’t just the largest scoreline in Champions League final history—it was an absurd mismatch. Even a Swiss Cup final between Basel and a third-division team of part-timers would likely be closer.

This wasn’t expected. PSG were favorites, but Inter had previously entered finals as underdogs and held their own—like their strong showing against Manchester City two years ago. This time, Inter weren’t just beaten—they were erased. It was so humiliating that some fans may wish they’d lost the semifinal to Barcelona instead. Calling it a mismatch is an understatement.

There have been one-sided finals before, but the losing teams still walked away with pride. In 2017, Real Madrid beat Juventus four–one—but it was one–one at halftime. Porto’s three–nil win over Monaco in 2004? First goal came in the thirty-ninth minute. Even Milan’s famous four–nil win over Barcelona in 1994 had a fighting Barca side. Inter offered nothing. Not even for a second.

So what went wrong? Inter had no injuries, no suspensions, and fielded their best lineup. Coach Simone Inzaghi used the same system that defeated Bayern and Barcelona. Yes, Inter is the oldest team in the tournament and played on multiple fronts—but fatigue doesn’t explain this collapse. They had two full weeks to rest and prepare. They just didn’t show up.

And maybe that’s because PSG were just that good. This wasn’t just dominance—it was something far beyond expectations. Credit goes to coach Luis Enrique, who has slowly built a cohesive, ego-free squad over the past two years. It’s proof you don’t need superstar names to win the Champions League—just a team willing to work for each other.

PSG’s journey this season was brutal. They had the toughest group stage draw and lost early matches against Arsenal, Atlético, and Bayern. At one point in early 2025, they were ranked twenty-fifth. Then came the turning point: down two–nil against Manchester City, they mounted a stunning comeback and won four–two.

From there, they rolled forward. A convincing win in Stuttgart, a comeback at Anfield, surviving Villa’s fightback, and then eliminating Arsenal—who had just crushed Real Madrid. The team gained confidence, rhythm, and momentum with every round. By the time they reached the final, they were playing fearless, fluid football.

Luis Enrique has instilled total football principles. No fixed roles. Fluid front lines. A flexible midfield without a traditional playmaker or defensive anchor. Fullbacks join attacks, defenders cover wide spaces, and young players like Willian Pacho quietly deliver near-perfect performances.

The goals in the final told the story: Hakimi, a right-back, scoring from center-forward position. Dembélé creating and pressing. Dhoué everywhere—assisting, scoring, dictating tempo. Even academy graduate Senny Maiolo got in on the action with a late fifth goal.

And while PSG danced, Inter crumbled. Their players mentally checked out and waited for the final whistle. It was a complete collapse.

Yes, PSG deserved to win. The players delivered. Luis Enrique deserves all the praise. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: this win is also a PR victory for Qatar.

This is sportswashing. A repressive regime accused of funding terror and abusing migrant workers improves its global image through beautiful football. It’s no coincidence that western media praises the club’s “new management style.” That’s the point. This is the story they want told.

The players—Dembélé, Dhoué—aren’t to blame. It’s unrealistic to expect young athletes to choose teams based on morality. But fans do have a choice. You can admire PSG’s football and still detest what the club represents. This win, as dominant as it was, is a sad milestone for football. PSG’s highest high is the sport’s lowest low.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Black Box Recovered from Air India Crash Site
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
×