At the start of the season, PSG and Inter, who will meet in the UEFA Champions League final, were not considered among the main favorites for the competition.
When comparing the two teams, the Italian side was seen as having even fewer chances of lifting the trophy, Idman.biz reports.
PSG was even at risk of failing to reach the playoffs during the league stage, having dropped out of the top 24.
For example, after five rounds, the French side had suffered three defeats and sat in 25th place, two points behind Real Madrid, who were just ahead in 24th.
However, PSG then put together a string of victories and even managed to knock out Liverpool — the tournament’s top favorite at the time — in a penalty shootout (0-1, 1-0, pens 4-1).
When they secured their spot in the final, Paris club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi recalled that phase:
“With three rounds left in the league stage, when we were on the verge of missing the playoffs, if someone had told me we’d reach the final... But I have always believed in the players, the head coach, and the coaching staff. This season, I felt something special was happening, both on and off the field. Everyone was fighting for each other, everyone was happy, and everyone was ready to fight for the jersey.”
Inter, on the other hand, surprisingly climbed to second place in the league stage after four wins from the fifth round onward, trailing Liverpool by just two points. Although they later lost to Bayer (0-1), the Milan side continued their run without defeat and made it all the way to the final.
As a result, whichever team wins the decisive match in Munich on May 31 will be regarded as the most unexpected Champions League winner since 2003 — when José Mourinho’s Porto sensationally lifted the trophy.
Idman.biz
