PSG: Vitinha reveals Luis Enrique’s speech before the final against Inter Milan – Champions League

The Champions League ultimate gained by Paris Saint-Germain towards Inter Milan (5-0) will go down as some of the memorable collective performances within the historical past of European soccer. A convincing victory, mastered from begin to end, which isn’t solely defined by expertise or technical superiority, but in addition – and above all – by exact psychological preparation, thought out and assumed by Luis Enrique.

In an interview with UEFA, the Spanish coach shocked by revealing that he had felt actual nervousness nicely earlier than the European assembly. “I used to be anxious two weeks earlier than the match, once we performed the Coupe de France ultimate, earlier than the UEFA Champions League ultimate. My employees and I solely had one factor in thoughts: strategy the match relaxed, in order to not be overwhelmed by what was at stake. When there’s an excessive amount of vitality, it isn’t signal. » Luis Enrique feared a basic lure of main finals: extra stress. Desirous to win an excessive amount of, feeling the significance of the occasion an excessive amount of, to the purpose of getting caught. His message to the gamers was subsequently intentionally going towards the standard discourse. “We will attempt to be 105%, not 120%, as a result of that kind of sport finally ends up blocking you. » An nearly complicated speech, however which discovered a direct echo within the Parisian locker room, beginning with Vitinha, a veritable metronome of the midfielder throughout this historic ultimate.

The Portuguese explains within the columns of the Portuguese media Abola that this psychological strategy was the important thing to every part. “It was primarily that, the way in which we constructed this 5-0. With all due respect to Inter, who’ve nice gamers and an awesome group, if we have a look at the match and the probabilities we had, we might have even scored extra, six or seven objectives. There have been actual alternatives for that, and I used to be shocked. » Vitinha insists on the distinctive dimension of this domination, particularly within the context of a European ultimate. “It was a Champions League ultimate. I consider and picture their need to win, to defend, to play, to attain, to win the trophy. And when you’ve an awesome group in entrance that tries to do precisely the other of what you wish to do, and also you succeed regardless of every part, it is the best collective consecration which you can obtain in world soccer. »

However for the Parisian neighborhood, the central aspect stays Luis Enrique’s speech within the days previous the match. “Two or three days earlier than the match, what to say to the gamers? We’re not going to inspire anybody for a Champions League ultimate. And he did precisely the other. He tried to calm us down. » Vitinha then reveals, nearly phrase for phrase, the phrases of the Spanish technician: “Settle down. This match might be gained by these closest to 100%. You is likely to be at 150, 160, 170, however come all the way down to earth, as a result of they are going to be at 120, 130. If you need one thing too badly, you typically get caught. We notice that we actually wish to win, and typically it is counterproductive. » A message repeated, hammered house, till it turns into a tenet: “Be 100%, however no extra. It will likely be counterproductive. It’ll work towards us. Remember: it is only a sport. I do know it is necessary, you possibly can’t say {that a} Champions League ultimate is not necessary, however life goes on. »

This managed serenity was instantly felt on the pitch. Vitinha says he in a short time perceived the emotional imbalance on the interist aspect. “I noticed their faces and I felt they didn’t perceive what was taking place. They wished to present the most effective of themselves, however they could not. They have been caught. » The fast aim, then the fluid and nearly unreal sequence of Parisian actions, definitively modified the ultimate. “After which we had the prospect to attain early. Then every part got here collectively like magic. » That night, Could 31, 2025, PSG not solely gained its first Champions League. He delivered a uncommon demonstration of group soccer, psychological lucidity and emotional mastery. Luis Enrique did not simply put together a sport plan: he ready a mind-set. And as Vitinha sums it up completely, this ultimate will stay as one of many best collective affirmations in world soccer.