Former Super Eagles and Ajax winger Finidi George has admitted he's pumped ahead of the UEFA Champions League final that'll see Paris Saint-Germain take on Arsenal, Soccernet.ng reports.
Luis Enrique's side will be playing in consecutive Champions League finals, a feat Finidi achieved with Ajax, defeating AC Milan in 1995, and losing to Juventus on penalties in 1996.
Ahead of the clash at the Puskas Arena later this evening, the former Super Eagles coach explained what whoever wants to win must do.
“Getting to the Champions League final is a very difficult task,” he told Footy-Africa.
“You have to have the mental toughness, the capability, the mindset, and the skills—everything is in play that day. But I think what makes you stand out on that day, as a player or as a team, is your calmness.”
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“In as much as you want to win, you must maintain that composure and control your nervousness very well,” the 1994 AFCON winner concluded.
“If you don’t do that and you concede a goal, the match can be lost. It is always difficult to come back in a final once you concede because it becomes a highly tactical, controlled game.
“If you don’t have that calmness and your team gets nervous, you are going to struggle.”
PSG vs Arsenal: Finidi George details what to expect
Paris Saint-Germain have scored 140 goals across all competitions this season, while Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have scored 20 fewer, and Finidi believes there's an interesting matchup ahead.
““It’s going to be an interesting game for us to watch, and we are all looking forward to it,” the former Enyimba head coach opined.
“I’ll be sitting down with some friends to watch it because it’s the best of the best playing tomorrow.”
Given Arsenal haven't won a Champions League title, and lost in their previous final appearance 20 years ago, Finidi believes there might be a mental battle the Gunners have to fight.
“Arsenal has been in the final before—against Barcelona in the mid-2000s—but for this current young squad, it’s entirely new territory.
“On the other hand, Paris Saint-Germain just won it last season, so that experience is fresh in their memory. They are returning with the same core group of players who already know what it takes to win.
“If Arsenal doesn’t have a player in their squad who has won a Champions League final, they will need to play very smartly to avoid conceding early. If they give up an early goal, their mental toughness will truly be tested.
“I expect a highly tactical match. PSG will likely push hard in the first 10 to 20 minutes to get an early goal, knowing it could mentally shake Arsenal.
“But if Arsenal can hold them off and keep it scoreless until halftime, they will come out much stronger in the second half,” the Rivers United coach concluded.
Kick-off for the 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League final is slated for 5:00 PM WAT. You can follow live updates on Soccernet.ng.
