Simone: ‘Inter extra gear compared to PSG for Champions League Final’ | OneFootball

Former Paris Saint-Germain and Milan striker Marco Simone maintains Inter ‘have an extra gear’ compared to PSG in the Champions League Final.

The two teams will face off in Munich on May 31 to see who lifts the trophy at the end of this first season that used the new tournament format.

While it would be the first victory for the French club, Inter have won it three times before, most recently with Jose Mourinho in 2010.

Simone tips Inter for Champions League glory

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 16: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale celebrates with teammate Benjamin Pavard after scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Bayern München at San Siro on April 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Italian Simone played for Paris Saint-Germain from 1997 to 1999, though his career was mainly associated with Milan.

“Inter are a modern team, well-organised and very efficient in their 3-5-2 formation,” Simone told RMC Sport in France.

“Compared to PSG, I think they have an extra gear, especially in physicality. Players like Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hakan Calhanoglu, despite being over 30, represent the pulsating heart of the Inter midfield.

“Plus there’s Nicolò Barella, who despite his small stature, is a concentrated cluster of energy and intensity.”

PARIS, FRANCE – MAY 07: Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC at Parc des Princes on May 07, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Paris Saint-Germain had a massive budget to construct their squad and a far higher wage bill than Inter, yet Simone sees them have more strength in depth.

“It’s not just about the starting players, those who come off the bench maintain the same physical and tactical level for the team. And that can be crucial if the game goes beyond 90 minutes.

“In that sense, I do believe Inter can have more weapons at their disposal for the Final than PSG. Inter have two teams today, we see it in Serie A and the Champions League, where they can change six or seven, even eight players.

“I’m not 100 per cent sure if PSG did the same thing, they would have similar results.”