‘It breaks you inside’, David Raya opens up on PSG v Arsenal

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·22 Juni 2026

‘It breaks you inside’, David Raya opens up on PSG v Arsenal

David Raya, Arsenal and Spain’s 30-year-old goalkeeper, spoke with complete honesty about the 2025-2026 Champions League final lost to Paris Saint-Germain in an interview with the Guardian. The defeat on penalties hurt the keeper badly, but he has not forgotten the pride of an outstanding season.

Raya: “we were so, so, so close…”

The thing is, when you lose a Champions League final, when you get there for the first time in twenty years and you lose on penalties, it breaks you inside. I left there with my head held high because of everything we had achieved during the season, but I was devastated inside because we were so, so, so close…

“you understand what you have achieved.”

The night was very hard, and the following morning too. But when you arrive at the Emirates and you see the fans, it lifts your spirits. When you get off the bus with the Premier League trophy and you see the crowd, what it means to them, you understand what you have achieved.”

David Raya is not hiding it: the moment was terrible. One can only imagine the immense disappointment of a defeat after so much effort, in a season that could have made history. The Premier League / Champions League double would have been unforgettable, especially as it would have been Arsenal’s first Champions League title.

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Defeat can always be painful, and it is even more painful on penalties, with the feeling that the match could have turned in your favor on the smallest of details. You have to manage to accept it and move on, while most of the players, like Raya, are now involved in the World Cup.

Arsenal also already had their London parade planned for the day after the final in order to celebrate at least the Premier League. That allowed them, at least a little, to lift their spirits and keep in mind that it was still a very fine season that the Gunners can be proud of.

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