Arsene Wenger shared his thoughts with UEFA on the upcoming Champions League final.
The legendary French footballing figure will be all too aware of what reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain can bring to the stage in Budapest, but he hopes his former club can deliver.
·‘Keep the togetherness the team has shown all season’
Arsenal are also in their second ever Champions League final, 20 years after a 2-1 loss against Barcelona in Paris. The Gunners have doubled down on defensive solidity and pragmatism under Mikel Arteta, and the old Arsenal manager feels the team have the tools to lift the trophy at long last.
“I want this trophy to go to Emirates Stadium because it’s missing there. We touched it before - we were 13 minutes away from winning it - so you want it to happen this time
“I’ve always said that you work in a club to make sure it’s in a good position to continue to progress. Overall, I believe this is a stage where we can grab it. I still believe it’s 50/50 in the final, and if I had to bet, I would bet on Arsenal more than on Paris Saint-Germain .
“A final is a final. The most important thing is that your team is not inhibited or impressed by the occasion and continues to focus on what it does well. This Arsenal team’s main strength is their ability to keep a clean sheet, and in a final that is very important.
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“Then you have to be efficient. Your moment will come in the game and you have to be ruthless. Paris Saint-Germain have huge attacking potential, but Arsenal also have individual quality and are very strong on set pieces, which can have a huge influence in a final. Once you are 1–0 up, everything starts to play to your strengths when you are strong defensively. Arsenal can always be dangerous.
“[For the final] do what you usually do and try to be relaxed, even though I know that’s impossible. Instil strong belief in your team. He knows how to do that. He knows the players better than I do. Keep the togetherness the team has shown all season and that will be enough.”