Mansion Sports – The stage in Budapest is preparing to witness a clash between two of the biggest forces in Europe today. Ahead of the UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal, the Paris Saint-Germain manager revealed details regarding the mental and tactical readiness of his squad.

Armed with the bitter and sweet experiences of last season, the tactician emphasized that Les Parisiens are now far more mature in handling pressure as they aim to bring home the Big Ears trophy.

Below are his full statements regarding the team’s transformation, his admiration for Mikel Arteta, and the strategy to contain The Gunners’ aggression.

Preparation

“When you reach the final stage of the season, the players deal with fatigue that is more mental than physical. Especially after a season like the one we have just had.

“We need to create the best conditions for them when they come to training, so they can work hard but also enjoy coming to work.”

“Rest is also an inseparable part of preparation, especially when we are playing matches like this.”

Pressure

“I think the way we manage emotions is different this year. We have the experience from last season. There were similar situations, and we have gone through them; there will be pressure to deal with, because that is normal, but I think we are even more prepared than we were last season.”

Adaptation

“The most important thing for us is to focus more on ourselves, and less on the opponent. That is what we will continue to do. We are talking about the best club competition in Europe, so yes, there is an element of adaptation because the level is very high.”

“Bayern, for example, are a team that really likes to control possession, so we had to adapt. But I think we also managed to improve our game, and we are proud to be in the final again.”

Ousmane Dembélé

“He is someone who sets an example. He always keeps going, and he is an important role model for everyone. He shines in his role, he scores goals, he decides matches, but he truly stands out in his defensive work.”

“He never fails to give everything for the team. Ousmane continues to show his individual quality on the ball, but also his performances when he is off the ball.”

Teamwork

“I am very fortunate to work alongside the President and the sporting management. It is very difficult to have a relationship like that at a club, and we are fortunate to have it here. Then there is the quality of the players, which also allows us to achieve the results we want. This is a very good period for the club, and we want to maintain it.”

Arsenal’s League Title

“I think they deserved to win the league; they have had an extraordinary season. We have already played against this Arsenal team, so we know what they are capable of.”

“They are one of the best teams when they do not have the ball, and when they do have the ball, they score many goals. It makes complete sense that we are facing them in the final. We can look forward to a truly outstanding final.”

The Evolution of Football

“Every year, I have less and less control over many things. I still have control over the things that are truly important, but everything changes very quickly in football. You have to be able to keep reinventing yourself.”

“I believe football is moving in this direction: having a little less control in order to surprise people — even our opponents.”

His Motivation

“Football has given me more than I have given to it. What matters to me is remaining competitive, winning the next match, and always finding the best way to communicate with players, who are getting younger while I grow older every year. But it is that unpredictable side that I truly love.”

Mikel Arteta

“When you look at Arsenal’s statistics, you can see that Mikel Arteta is a leader as a coach, who has instilled a winning mentality into the team.”

“They have continued to improve for several seasons now; they love possession, but they are the best team in Europe without the ball.”

“They won the Premier League, and they are in the Champions League final this year after reaching the semi-finals last season. They deserve to be there, and Arteta has instilled a competitive spirit in his players.”