PSG more 'hungry' for Champions League after first taste of glory

BUDAPEST: Paris Saint-Germain stars Ousmane Dembele and Marquinhos insisted their team are ravenous for European glory ahead of Saturday's Champions League final clash with Arsenal after tasting success last season.
The French side claimed the trophy for the first time and are defending their crown in Budapest against Mikel Arteta's side, who are yet to win the trophy.
PSG captain Marquinhos said after thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in last year's final, the Ligue 1 side had gained a taste for success which had to be sated.
'Once you win the Champions League, once you taste that title, once you taste that moment, you want so badly to relive moments like that again,' the Brazilian defender told reporters at the Puskas Arena.
'I still remember today the feeling and emotion in the dressing room after that final. And for us, as competitors, we always want to feel that emotion. And again, we have to be hungry, we have to have motivation.'
Some PSG fans are making the long journey east by road, including Marquinhos's father, which he said was added incentive to perform.
'My father, even, with friends, is on his way by car. You have people who came from far away to push us on,' continued Marquinhos.
'So the motivation, the hunger, and the ambition to win this title have not changed since last year. And maybe it's even stronger because we've tasted it.'
Dembele said winning again and again is what makes players truly great.
'We have a young squad, incredible staff and incredible players who want to win trophies,' said the France international.
'We're hungry to win every trophy, whether it's the Champions League, the league, or the cup.
'We're competitors — if we want to be great players, we have to win this kind of trophy several times. We're hungry, and we hope everything goes well tomorrow.'
Arsenal boast the strongest defence in the competition and are unbeaten on their run to the final. Arteta's side also pose a potent threat from dead ball situations.
'We know their strength, we know how hard and difficult it is to come up against this Arsenal side,' added Marquinhos.
'In a match, especially in a final, — it's going to be decided on the details... knowing how to defend, how to attack, how to counter, how to defend a set piece, also how to attack a set piece.
'All the little details in a football match and in a final are going to be important. We've prepared ourselves for all those details.'
SLOW-COOKED
Enrique took PSG to the semis in his first season, then past Arsenal last year in the final four before crushing Inter Milan to claim the Parisians a first European Cup — 14 years and well beyond 1 billion euros ($1.2bn) spent since Qatar Sports Investments took over the club.
By contrast Arsenal's team has been slow-cooked over nearly seven years by Mikel Arteta, without the overwhelming financial muscle of PSG or domestic rivals Manchester City.
Last summer they recognised their developing team was finally ready to triumph and the Gunners reinforced in key areas.
It brought a first Premier League title in 22 years and a return to Europe's grandest stage after two decades away, following their 2006 final defeat by Barcelona in Paris.
Both teams arrive in Hungary with different reputations in the eyes of the world for the way they play.
PSG are the tournament's top scorers with 44 goals, while Arsenal are the team that has conceded fewest, shipping just six and are unbeaten.
Beyond the class of winger Bukayo Saka, Arsenal stand out more for their grit and defensive discipline, with centre-back pairing Gabriel and William Saliba their regular stand-out performers, as well as midfield powerhouse Declan Rice.
Arteta's team will embrace the underdog role, keeping the champions at bay and leaning on their superior set-piece quality. — AFP