Paris Saint-Germain to meet Bayern Munich in UEFA Champions League final tonight Match starts 10 pm doha time SUNday, AUGUST 23, 2020 Kylian Mbappe eager to ‘go down in history’ with PSG CL triumph AFP Lisbon Paris Saint-Germain’s president Nasser Al Khelaifi arrives at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, on Saturday on the eve of the UEFA Kylian Mbappe is determined Champions League final between PSG and Bayern Munich.( AFP) to make footballing history for France by leading Paris Saint- Germain to victory over Bayern Munich in Sunday’s Champi- ons League final in Lisbon. “This is exactly why I came here. I always said that I want- ed to go down in my country’s history. Tomorrow is another chance to do that,” Mbappe said on the eve of the game which is PSG’s first ever Cham- pions League final appearance. Mbappe, now 21, emerged as a global superstar by help- ing France win the World Cup in Russia in 2018, becoming the youngest player since a teenage Pele to score in the fi- nal of that competition. He had signed for PSG a Bayern Munich’s German Joshua Kimmich during a press con- year earlier from Monaco in ference at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on Saturday on the eve of the UEFA a transfer that cost a reported Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.(UEF A / AFP) 180 million euros ($212m), the second biggest fee in his- tory after the 222 million eu- ros paid by Paris to sign Ney- Bayern won’t mar from Barcelona just a few weeks previously. “When I arrived in 2017, Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe (centre) jokes with teammates during a training session at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, change their we had had several disappoint- Portugal, on Saturday on the eve of the UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich.( AFP) ments but now we are in the final and that shows that we representatives to reach the For PSG, it is also an op- ’s team have portant this club is in the eyes didn’t give up, I didn’t give up, Champions League final since portunity to confirm their sta- won every trophy this season of the world, how much it has winning formula and it would be a fantastic re- 2004, when Monaco were tus as one of Europe’s biggest in France. grown. We are focused on to- ward to win with a French club,” beaten 3-0 by Porto. names after being transformed “Are PSG a big club in Eu- morrow, but if we win then we DPA boasting Champions League added Mbappe. Only once before has a in the last nine years since be- rope? I think tomorrow is a good can debate that afterwards.” Lisbon top scorer Robert Lewandows- “That was my mission French team won Europe’s ing taken over by Qatar Sports opportunity for us to enter into Mbappe also said he was ki who has netted 15 times. when I signed here. To win elite club competition, when Investments in 2011. that circle by winning the Cham- feeling “better every day” hav- Bayern Munich will not “There is no bigger title tomorrow (Sunday) would be Marseille defeated AC Milan They have won seven of pions League,” Mbappe said. ing shaken off an ankle injury change their high pressing for a club than the Champions incredible, it would be a great in the inaugural final of the the last eight French titles, “But we will leave other to start in PSG’s 3-0 win over game plan in Sunday’s Cham- League. It is sad that the final achievement.” modern Champions League, only missing out in that time people to do the talking. We RB Leipzig in the semi-final pions League final against will be without fans but it is an PSG are the first French back in 1993 in 2017 to Mbappe’s Monaco. know our qualities and how im- last Tuesday. Paris Saint-Germain because opportunity we want to seize,” it has been their winning for- Kimmich said. mula over the past months. “I expect a balanced game Bayern showed the occa- between two top teams who PSG’s Juan Bernat poised to haunt old side Bayern in the final sional weakness at the back deserve to be in the final.” in the previous games against Flick, the former Germany ayern Munich were happy four straight titles lowed the Spaniards to take the 1 titles at the Parc des Princes. Barcelona and Olympique assistant coach who has only Bto see the back of Juan before being sold to the Paris- lead in Bayern’s 2-1 away win, He scored key goals against Liv- Lyon, and face even faster op- been in charge since Novem- Bernat after he signed for Paris ians in August 2018. However, eventually bowing out to Real erpool, Napoli and Manchester position in PSG’s and ber, said: “The team has the Saint-Germain in 2018, but the a few months after he had left Madrid in the semi-finals. United in their 2018/19 Cham- Kylian Mbappe. mentality to do everything for left-back has become a key Bernat’s name suddenly came Hoeness has since apologised pions League campaign when But coach and victory. We can only win if we player for the French giants and up in an explosive Bayern press with Bernat now a mainstay in they bowed out in the last 16. full-back Joshua Kimmich are at 100 per cent. could haunt his ex-club in Sun- conference in October 2018. Thomas Tuchel’s side. The nimble defender has told a virtual news confer- day’s Champions League final. When asked about left-back To his credit, Bernat took Hoe- started nine of 10 matches ence on Saturday they will not Bernat, a reliable presence at cover at the time, then presi- ness’ rant in his stride and was in Europe this season and is change their style. left-back, scored PSG’s final dent Uli Hoeness lambasted “surprised” by the retrospec- “a very important player” for “We want to push through goal in Tuesday’s 3-0 semi-final the Spaniard’s performance in a tive criticism. “I was taught as Tuchel, who has praised our philosophy. It distinguish- win against RB Leipzig. Champions League quarter-final a child to be grateful and I will Bernat’s “great attitude”. (AFP) es us and guaranteed our suc- The 27-year-old says he has at Sevilla, six months previously. always be grateful to Bayern for cess. We will not change it,” “fond memories” of his four The focus of Hoeness’s wrath the four years I spent there.” PSG’s Spanish defender Juan Flick said. years in Munich, where he won was a Bernat mistake which al- Bernat has since won two Ligue Bernat (right) on Saturday. “We must put pressure on the ball. PSG have a lot of qual- ity, pace and top stars but we must not give them the space to play their passes.” Kim- PSG academy trainees in Doha root for Neymar mich said: “We must be on our guard, even more than in the AFP Cyril Klosek. “PSG is already Champions League would con- other games. But I don’t think Doha one of the best brands in the tribute greatly to increasing we will be sitting back.” Flick sports industry, we develop PSG’s popularity in most parts suggested that centre-back Je- The young players of PSG’s branding, merchandising and of the world, not just Doha.” rome Boateng has recovered academy in Doha performed these academies.” But it is Liverpool that en- from muscular problems and a range of drills under the Twenty-two youngsters joys the perhaps the most spir- should be able to play while watchful eyes of their mostly in immaculate dark-blue PSG ited support in Qatar where its full-back is Bayern Munich’s Polish forward French coaches as the sun set jerseys performed a range of Egyptian talisman Mo Salah is unlikely to make the starting during train- on the horizon. dribbles and passes. revered. During the Club World 11 as he has only played a few ing at the Luz stadium in Lisbon Their side’s Champions “Most of the (students) Cup in Doha in December 2019, minutes against Lyon in his re- on Saturday. (AFP) League triumph against Leip- knew PSG, but maybe less thousands of local Liverpool turn from a foot injury. zig, taking them through to than English Premier League supporters joined forces with But it appears that Flick, “To measure yourself Sunday’s final against Bayern clubs or Spanish clubs. But we travelling fans to watch their who will decide on his line- against the best is fun for eve- Munich in Lisbon, was on the talk a lot about the club’s his- victorious campaign. But Qa- up after the day’s training, ry player. We have a plan and lips of several students. tory,” said Klosek. taris themselves have warmed could bring on French wing- hope that we can implement “My expectation is PSG Several PSG stars have vis- to PSG since their country ac- er for Ivan it.” “Tomorrow is a special are going to win 3-1, hat-trick Boys with the under-12 group, train at the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) ited in past years for winter quired it in 2011, experts say. Perisic who started in the game. You can be crowned.” from Neymar,” said Yassine Football Academy in Doha on Saturday on the eve of the UEFA Cham- training camps – and fan selfies. “Qataris have become in- last three games. Bayern’s board member for el-Samman, 11. “But Bayern pions League final between PSG and Bayern Munich.( AFP) The academy also supports Qa- clined to support the team af- “It is open. But it is the sport Hasan Salihamidzic are a fantastic team.” tar’s strategy to cultivate home- ter its acquisition by Qatar and third match in a short period,” meanwhile said that winning Samman, like others at the of them.” than 70 similar academies grown talent ahead of 2022 with the presidency of Nasser Al Flick said. Sunday would have the same under-12s training session, said The academy opened to worldwide is a key part of its one player from the PSG acad- Khelaifi who (helped) the team Bayern aim to complete a importance as their past titles, his family were newcomers to fanfare in January 2019 at an ambitious project to expand emy sent to Paris for trials. reach the Champions League title treble behind closed doors despite the coronavirus crisis. the dominant French side. event attended by PSG super- its appeal globally and secure “PSG was keen to set up final for the first time,” said at the Estadio da Luz and win “Coronavirus cannot re- “I was watching a match star Neymar and first team a place in the top echelon of training camps in Qatar, which commentator Mahmoud Nsiri. the title for a sixth time, with duce the sporting importance with my dad once. He told me coach Thomas Tuchel. world football. contributed to strengthen- When asked why he sup- the last one coming in 2013. of national and international there was this club he didn’t Open to boys and girls “It’s important to promote ing their popularity in Doha,” ported PSG, one young sup- They are unbeaten in 29 competitions,” Salihamidzic know about called PSG. And aged between five and 16, it our brand, but not only that. Qatar-based sports journalist porter shopping in the club matches in all competitions, of told Saturday’s editions of I saw them play really well, operates across four sites. It’s about values too,” said Hossam Nabawy told AFP. store ahead of Sunday’s final which they have won 28, and the Muenchner Merkur and so we decided to watch more PSG’s network of more academy technical director “Certainly winning the said simply: “Neymar”. scored 94 goals in the process, tz dailies.