PSG v Arsenal, Rice sets the tone: ‘at the top of his game’

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·29 May 2026

PSG v Arsenal, Rice sets the tone: ‘at the top of his game’

Declan Rice, Arsenal’s 27-year-old midfielder and captain, spoke on UEFA’s official website about the 2025-2026 Champions League final on Saturday, May 30, against Paris Saint-Germain. He showed all the determination needed to take on a great team that is not unbeatable.

Rice: “you have to take your chances”

PSG are a very good team. [We] faced them over two matches last year. It could have gone either way, so looking back on it now, may the best team win. What did we learn from last season’s semi-final defeat? That you have to take your chances, because we had a lot of them. It wasn’t our time, but it is [those] moments that prepare you for the moments to come. We will be ready.

Rice: “you need that fire in your belly from the first whistle, the belief that you are going to win this final.”

You have to be at the top of your game to beat PSG. You need that fire in your belly from the first whistle, the belief that you are going to win this final. It is the biggest competition in football. The Champions League final—there is nothing bigger. What a privilege, what an opportunity. It will be the last kick of the club football season, so to finish in style and give everything, empty the tank one last time and give all you have to win such a wonderful trophy with this club.

Rice cannot do anything but show respect for this PSG side, which has been in the habit of impressing for many months. Especially last season with the semi-final win against Arsenal. That two-legged tie may still be on people’s minds, but it will not give the slightest advantage in the final. You can also take away from it two very tight matches and the feeling that everything can turn on a few details in the final.

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Logically, each team will approach it with confidence and the desire to produce a great performance. One of the keys will be finding the right emotional balance, because too much motivation is a danger often highlighted by Paris coach Luis Enrique. But there is no room for complacency either, that is certain.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.