EXCLUSIVE: Jens Lehmann's guide to unlikely Champions League final as new heroes emerge
Updated . First published
Arsenal great Jens Lehmann is tipping Paris Saint-Germain to exorcise their many Champions League demons and finally conquer Europe on Sunday (AEST).
PSG will start favourites against Inter Milan in Munich in a match-up that very few predicted when 36 hopeful clubs kicked off a new league format last September.
The perennial Ligue 1 champions were widely discounted after losing talisman Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid, officially ending the ill-fated 'Galacticos' era.
Watch the 2025 UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan on Sunday from 4.15am AEST, live & exclusive on Stan Sport
Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain looks on as teammates Lionel Messi and Neymar talk in the background. Getty
PSG at one stage trotted out a ridiculously talented attacking triumvirate of Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar yet a 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the 2020 Champions League final was as close as they have come to lifting the trophy.
But manager Luis Enrique has thrived without an abundance of riches and got PSG humming as a collective.
The former Spain midfielder has already won the Champions League as a manager, when he guided Barcelona to the trophy back in 2015.
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Luis Enrique acknowledges the fans at fulltime. Getty
"Mbappe is a great player but you have to look at the Champions League results without him at PSG," Lehmann, who will feature on Stan Sport's coverage of the final, told Wide World of Sports.
"They are playing more as a cohesive unit rather than turning to Mbappe to perhaps produce some individual brilliance as might have happened in the past.
"PSG to win. It's surely their time. They have got stronger as the season has progressed. They have also defended much better during their big knockout matches and that, coupled with their attacking threat, means I see them as this season's Champions League winners."
Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates scoring his team's third goal. UEFA via Getty Images
Indeed, it's not like PSG don't have major weapons without Mbappe.
The most obvious is his France teammate Ousmane Dembele, who has enjoyed a breakout season after emerging from Mbappe's shadow.
Dembele is the second favourite behind Lamine Yamal to win the Ballon d'Or after scoring 21 Ligue 1 goals and eight in the Champions League.
Lamine Yamal of Barcelona celebrates scoring. Getty
Just as important in PSG's success has been their giant Italian goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The 26-year-old has been spectacular in the knockout stages of the Champions League and ex-Germany and Gunners shot-stopper Lehmann was full of praise.
"He's been the standout goalkeeper this season and has produced some outstanding performances in this competition," Lehmann, a member of Arsenal's 'Invincibles' said.
Gilberto and Jens Lehmann of Arsenal with the Premier League trophy. Getty
"PSG have conceded the fewest goals out of everyone in the competition - and Donnarrumma has played a huge part in that."
Lehmann also felt PSG's Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha were well placed to continue their midfield domination while Inter's biggest threat would come from Denzel Dumfries down their right hand side.
The Europa League final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United was a tough watch from a technical perspective but Lehmann expected this to be much different.
"A contrast in styles with clubs from different countries often means you see a good spectacle," he noted.
"And you can't deny that the technical quality of the players on show in Munich will be far superior to what we saw in Bilbao. More often or not, Italian teams turn up to defend. Personally, due to the system they play, they are normally too defensive.
"PSG would be more responsible for the beauty of the game."
