PSG Dembele says the club is even more eager for Champions League glory.

Paris Saint‑Germain players Ousmane Dembélé and Marquinhos said the team is eager for European glory ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final against Arsenal, after enjoying success the previous season.

The French club won the trophy for the first time and will defend it in Budapest against Mikel Arteta’s side, which has yet to lift the competition.

After defeating Inter Milan 5‑0 in last year’s final, PSG captain Marquinhos explained that the taste of success had to be satisfied again.

“Once you win the Champions League, once you taste that title, once you taste that moment, you want so badly to relive moments like that again,” the Brazilian defender told reporters at the Puskás Arena.

“I still remember the feeling and emotion in the dressing room after that final. And for us, as competitors, we always want to feel that emotion. And again, we have to be hungry, we have to have motivation.”

Some PSG fans are travelling east by road, including Marquinhos’s father, which he said added incentive to perform.

“My father, even, with friends, is on his way by car. You have people who came from far away to push us on,” continued Marquinhos.

“So the motivation, the hunger, and the ambition to win this title have not changed since last year. And maybe it’s even stronger because we’ve tasted it.”

Dembélé said winning repeatedly is what makes players truly great.

“We have a young squad, incredible staff and incredible players who want to win trophies,” said the France international.

“We’re hungry to win every trophy, whether it’s the Champions League, the league, or the cup. We’re competitors — if we want to be great players, we have to win this kind of trophy several times. We’re hungry, and we hope everything goes well tomorrow.”

Arsenal boast the strongest defence in the competition and are unbeaten on their run to the final. Arteta’s side also pose a potent threat from dead‑ball situations.

“We know their strength, we know how hard and difficult it is to come up against this Arsenal side,” added Marquinhos.

“In a match, especially in a final, it’s going to be decided on the details… knowing how to defend, how to attack, how to counter, how to defend a set piece, also how to attack a set piece. All the little details in a football match and in a final are going to be important. We’ve prepared ourselves for all those details.”

– No injury worries –

Dembélé suffered a calf problem earlier in May but said he was never worried he would miss the final.

“No I wasn’t scared about missing the final, I stopped as soon as I felt the niggle,” explained the PSG attacker. “I had 10 to 15 days to get myself in shape.”

Dembélé won the Ballon d’Or last year after starring in PSG’s run to European glory and could be in line for another if they triumph again.

“(Winning that) hasn’t really changed the way I am or the way I play. I do know, though, that I’ve had a lot more responsibility since I arrived at Paris Saint‑Germain,” said the former Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund forward.

“Right now I’m trying to perform well on the pitch, whether it’s in the big matches or the smaller ones. I still have that desire, that hunger to win trophies with this club, with all the staff and this squad, and that’s the only thing in my head. Individual awards, I know people talk about them a lot, but those come afterwards.”

AFP

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