EXCLUSIVE: Samuel Chukwueze Issues Strong Champions League Challenge Ahead of Inter’s Showdown with PSG

AC Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze has shared an unexpected forecast ahead of the Champions League final on Saturday, featuring Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.

Making just their second appearance in the final, the Parisians are on a quest to secure the title, aiming to replicate their achievement as the last French club to win a major European trophy with the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup back in the 1995/96 season.

However, they face a daunting task against the seasoned Italian team, who are competing in their seventh final, having claimed the trophy on three occasions. The match will unfold at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

While one might assume that the Nigerian international would rally behind their Milan neighbours, Chukwueze’s sentiments are quite different.

“To be honest, this final is set to be a fiercely contested clash. Both teams have displayed exceptional talent and thoroughly deserve their place here, making it a challenging match for either side,” he stated.

“Ultimately, I simply wish for the best team on the night to emerge victorious and lift the trophy.”

With a total of 167 matches played, PSG currently ranks fourth in the list of teams that have yet to clinch the Champions League title, behind Arsenal (211), Dynamo Kyiv (185), and Atletico Madrid (176).

A victory for Luis Enrique’s side would establish a record for the most matches played before winning a first Champions League title.

As it stands, Manchester City holds the record, having lifted the trophy in their 117th match, defeating Inter Milan in the 2023 final.

Chukwueze recognises that taking on Inter Milan presents a challenging hurdle, primarily due to the depth and quality embedded within their squad.

“Facing Inter Milan is always a formidable challenge, as they are a strong and experienced side that knows how to perform in high-pressure situations,” he remarked.

“This current PSG team is uncharted territory for us, providing a new kind of challenge. This season alone, we’ve met Inter about five times, and we’ve managed to remain unbeaten against them.

We won three and drew two of those encounters. Still, each match is unique, and we understand we’ll need to give our all to achieve a favourable outcome.”

Winger Moses Simon, who is also an international teammate of Chukwueze, previously expressed his backing for the reigning French champions.

“Of course, reaching the final isn’t a novel experience for them; it is part of their strategy. I sincerely hope they will win. This victory wouldn’t just be for them; it would also represent France,” he said.

“PSG has all the necessary qualities to defeat Inter Milan. I’ve faced them before, and they boast a roster filled with talented players.

“However, they mustn’t underestimate Inter; they possess skilled players like Martinez, who consistently finds the back of the net. Inter is a solid team that has been together for a long time, just like PSG.”

“I’m not one to say the best team should win; I simply desire for PSG to come out on top.”

Experience has been pivotal for Simone Inzaghi’s Inter side throughout this season’s campaign. Only Atletico Madrid has devoted a higher percentage of match minutes to players aged 30 and over than Inter.

In total, their veteran players have clocked up 6,151 minutes, marking the highest tally for a single Champions League campaign since Juventus’ 6,186 minutes in the 2016/17 season.

In contrast, PSG has only allocated 1,350 minutes to players over the age of 30, all of which have been from Marquinhos.