‘We deserve it, because PSG were the only team willing to play’ – João Neves aims dig at Arsenal on the back of Champions League title | OneFootball

PSG have gone back-to-back in the Champions League after defeating Premier League winners Arsenal on penalties this Saturday at Budapest. Ousmane Dembélé’s spot-kick cancelled out Kai Havertz’s early opener. Nothing separated the sides after 120+ minutes of play, and PSG eventually prevailed after Gabriel skied Arsenal’s fifth and final attempt. Les Parisiens are the first team to retain the Champions League since Real Madrid’s threepeat of wins between 2016 and 2018.

After hindsight, there is a case to be made that PSG were deserving Champions League winners given they have dominated large parts of the game, although Arsenal were brilliant in frustrating PSG’s strengths. Speaking to M6 in the aftermath of PSG’s second consecutive title, João Neves has criticised Arsenal’s game play and antics.

“We deserve it today, because PSG were the only team willing to play.” The Portuguese midfielder added that signing for PSG in the summer of 2024 from formative club SL Benfica was the best decision he has ever made. “It’s not even the victory in itself that pleases me, but playing with such teammates, this staff, and this management. I love everything here.“

GFFN | Bastien Cheval