Paris Saint Germain manager Luis Enrique has appeared to take a measured but pointed swipe at Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, as the two continental giants...
Paris Saint Germain manager Luis Enrique has appeared to take a measured but pointed swipe at Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, as the two continental giants prepare to lock horns in the Champions League final. The Parisians secured their passage to the showpiece event yesterday with a nerve shredding 6. 5 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich in their semi final tie, a result that leaves the football world salivating over what promises to be a colossal showdown. Arsenal, for their part, ended a two decade long wait to return to the final of Europe. �s most prestigious club competition after overcoming a stubborn Atletico Madrid side across two legs. The North London club have been a formidable force this season, with their defensive stalwarts and clinical attackers earning plaudits far and wide. Arteta has moulded a side that gives a good account of themselves on every front, and the lion. �s share of credit must go to his meticulous planning. But in the scheme of things, it is Luis Enrique. �s latest comment that has set tongues wagging. Speaking to the press after PSG. �s triumph, the Spanish tactician remarked that his team. �s journey to the final has been built on. �real football. �, a phrase many have interpreted as a subtle dig at Arsenal. �s more methodical, possession based approach under Arteta.. �We play with intensity and directness,. � Enrique said.. �At the end of the day, you must win the right to play the final. That is the truth of this game.. � Though he stopped short of naming the Gunners directly, the powers that be in the Arsenal camp will surely have noted the comment. The match, which will be staged at the Allianz Arena in Munich, now pits two contrasting philosophies against one another: Arteta. �s structured, patient build up against Enrique. �s high energy, vertical style. Nigerian football fans will be particularly keen to watch the final, not least because Super Eagles talisman Victor Osimhen, who has been linked with both clubs in recent transfer windows, will be watching from the stands as a pundit for GoalZaza. His compatriot and Bayer Leverkusen hitman Victor Boniface has also been tipped to feature in the pre match buildup, adding local flavour to an already mouthwatering encounter. As the date draws nearer, the excitement across Nigeria is palpable. In Lagos, at the popular Maracana viewing centre in Surulere, fans are expected to gather in their hundreds, draped in the colours of both clubs, arguing passionately over soft drinks and roasted plantain. In Abuja, security operatives have already begun planning for the crowds that will flood the Wuse Zone 4 viewing spots, where the atmosphere often rivals that of the stadium itself. The powers that be in the Nigerian football community know that this final is not just a European affair; it is a moment when every corner of the nation will pause to witness history.
