PSG’s final week buzzes with intensity ahead of Champions League showdown
The countdown to the Champions League final has begun for Paris Saint-Germain. With seven days remaining before the highly anticipated clash against Arsenal in Budapest, Luis Enrique orchestrated an intense internal scrimmage at the Club’s training facility in Poissy this past Saturday morning. The session served as a crucial dress rehearsal for the players, ensuring they maintained sharpness ahead of the high-stakes encounter on May 30.
The friendly match split the squad into two teams of eleven, battling for just over an hour in a fiercely contested encounter. While the session was designed to simulate real-game conditions, two key figures were notably absent from the action.
Key absentees take individual route
Ballon d’Or contender Ousmane Dembélé and Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi, both sidelined from Saturday’s scrimmage, were instead engaged in focused individual training. Club sources confirmed that their absence raised no alarms, as both players are expected to feature prominently in the final against Arsenal. Their recovery from recent minor issues appears to be progressing smoothly, with no risks taken by the technical staff ahead of the showpiece event.
The internal lineup for the match featured a mix of established stars and emerging talents:
- Black Team: Marin – Fanne Drame, Zabarnyi, Hernandez, Mendes – Mayulu, Neves, Beraldo – Doué, Ramos, Barcola.
- White Team: Safonov – Zaïre-Emery, Pacho, Marquinhos, Cordier – Dro, Vitinha, Ruiz – Mbaye, Lee, Kvaratskhelia.
Luis Enrique also seized the opportunity to integrate young prospects such as Abdou Fanne Drame, Rayan Abo El Nay, Thomas Cordier, and Yanis Khafi into the fray. The session proved productive, with Vitinha, Ibrahim Mbaye, and Gonçalo Ramos finding the back of the net.
Fan engagement takes center stage
The training session wasn’t just about football—it was also a celebration of the club’s passionate supporters. Around 1,000 ultras were invited to Poissy as a token of appreciation for their unwavering commitment throughout the season. The gathering aimed to recreate the electrifying atmosphere of a matchday, complete with chants and banner displays. Notably, the ultras unfurled a banner reading, “Once is historic, twice is legendary,” sending a powerful message of encouragement to the players.
The event also welcomed over 150 children from the PSG for Communities initiative, personally invited by President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi. The young fans received autographed jerseys and footballs from the players following the session, adding a heartwarming touch to the day’s activities.
With Sunday and Monday earmarked as rest days, the squad will regroup for training on Tuesday, stepping into the final stretch of preparation before the Champions League final. The focus is razor-sharp, and the intensity palpable as the team inches closer to the climax of the season.
