German giants Bayern Munich have won the UEFA Champions League for the sixth time in the club’s history after beating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 at the final in Portugal’s capital, Lisbon.
Kingsley Coman haunted his former club Paris Saint-Germain as his second-half header guided Bayern Munich to victory in the Champions League final. The Frenchman was Bayern’s only pre-match change from the semi-final victory over Lyon and vindicated his inclusion on the hour when he headed the winner as the champions of Germany overcame their French counterparts.
Victory for the German champion secures a lucrative treble after it also won the league and domestic cup earlier this year. It was therefore a moment to savour for Bayern and manager Hansi Flick, who having been installed as interim boss last November, completed a Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and Champions League treble for only the second time in the club’s history.
For Thomas Tuchel and PSG, it was agonising failure at the final hurdle as the expensive stars brought to the club to win this very competition, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, spurned chances and failed to replicate the French champions’ domestic dominance on European football’s biggest stage.
Bayern Munich manager, Hansi Flick, was understandably ecstatic and filled with pride after the match.
He said, “I am proud of this team. When I started in November, I read the headlines: ‘No need to fear or respect Bayern Munich anymore’, ‘The team is awful’, but the development of my team since then has been sensational.
“We made maximum use of everything. It is not easy to win three titles. It was hard work. You could see during winter how much determination we have in this team, which is obviously something you wish for as a coach.
“Every player developed this season in such a way so as to win three titles. This only happens as a team. The team is always in the foreground. When you see how we worked until the 96th minute tonight in defence then it is a superb team spirit.”
PSG head coach Thomas Tuchel was disappointed his side lost a fairly even game after spurning so many goal scoring opportunities;
He said, “It was a big fight between two strong sides and it was very equal. There was a bit more confidence from them on the ball and possession, and they were very dangerous. We had two very good opportunities to score and it proved decisive.
“We talked about it before that the first goal would decide the match. It’s a pity we couldn’t do it because it would’ve been a big obstacle and a challenge for them to turn it around. We needed the boost for a 1-0 to feel free to show our quality.
“I thought we showed an unbelievable fight and for me it’s absolutely possible to play the same game again and win the game 1-0. It’s like this and you have to accept that Manuel Neuer showed his quality in the Bayern goal.”
An 11th consecutive Champions League victory further underlined Bayern’s dominant campaign as they became the first team in European Cup history to win every match en route to lifting the trophy.
