Former Super Eagles and Paris Saint-Germain star Austin Jay-Jay Okocha was left stunned after the Ligue 1 giants blew Inter Milan away 5-0 in the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday night, Footynaija.com reports.
Okocha, who represented PSG between 1998 and 2002, playing 113 games, scoring 20 goals, and providing nine assists, was in the stands at the Allianz Arena to witness his former side lift their first-ever Champions League trophy in truly historic fashion.
The French giants demolished Inter Milan thanks to a brace from teenage sensation Désiré Doué, and further goals from Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Senny Mayulu. Okocha spoke to TNT Sports after the final whistle, expressing his delight while admitting he hadn’t expected the match to be so one-sided.
What Okocha said
“It’s amazing, and the way they did it, they made it look so easy,” he said. “They came with a good game plan, it worked out for them, and they totally deserved it.
“I didn’t think it would be 5-nil, I predicted 2-1, but who cares? I wanted to see them win, and they won. It’s great for the club, the first time in their history, and I think it’s good for football as well.”
The former Nigeria international lauded the Parisians’ individual brilliance and team cohesion, which proved too much for Inter to handle. He was particularly impressed by PSG’s relentless pressing and work ethic, especially from the star-studded front line.
“The skills were the difference, they used their individual talent for the team. They held the ball very well, and they made Inter suffer a bit. I think it’s down to their ability to do something with the ball.
“If I were to play in this front three, I’d have no choice but to press like that. When you’re around great players, they make you look good. The pressing was incredible, but the hard work is in the mind. If everything is working out well, you don’t mind going an extra mile for the team, and that’s what they did.”
PSG’s triumph not only ended their long wait for European glory, it also went down in history as the largest winning margin ever in a UEFA Champions League final.