Sunday’s football briefing: Paris St Germain secure Champions League glory

Paris St Germain are at long last European champions.

The Champions League has been the holy grail for the Parisians since their Qatari take over more than a decade ago and when it finally came, it came in stunning fashion as they crushed Inter Milan 5-0 – the biggest winning margin for a final in the competition’s history.

Luis Enrique’s side became only the second French club to lift the European Cup after Marseille did so in 1993, and they end the season as treble winners following their Ligue 1 and French Cup successes.

Dream night for PSG

PSG were many people’s favourites for the final but could anyone have foreseen the performance they delivered in Munich?

Achraf Hakimi finished off a brilliant attacking move to put them ahead 12 minutes in and it already felt over when 19-year-old Desire Doue added a second eight minutes later with the help of a deflection.

Doue would get another just after the hour but PSG just kept coming as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia made it four 10 minutes later, with another teenager, 18-year-old Senny Mayulu, sparking wild scenes when he got the fifth five minutes from time.

After millions were spent signing ageing stars who could not deliver, Enrique as rebuilt PSG as a young, energetic side who have become the class of Europe.

Wiegman weighs options

Sarina Wiegman still has a few days left before she names her England squad for the Euros and will use them to pick between a number of players still hoping to make the final cut.

Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones put forward her case when she became just the second Lioness to score a hat-trick at Wembley in the 6-0 Nations League rout of Portugal. The key for Wiegman will be to find the right balance of form, fitness and chemistry in the final 23.

“Of course you want these connections,” she said. “Some players play more together than others. You have your opponents and of course, we still have players that are building too, so can they go to the level they had before they had injuries?

“I don’t know yet. We’re still trying out things and finding the balance.”

Heitinga leaves, Lijnders for City?

As Liverpool announced that John Heitinga was leaving his role as Arne Slot’s assistant to become head coach of Ajax, one of his predecessors as a deputy in the Anfield dugout has also been in the news this weekend.

Pep Lijnders, who was the assistant to Jurgen Klopp for several seasons, has reportedly agreed to join rivals Manchester City in Pep Guardiola’s new-look backroom staff.

Lijnders left Liverpool at the same time as Klopp last summer, but his role as Red Bull Salzburg boss was short-lived as he left in December.

Former Ajax and Everton defender Heitinga, 41, will take over from Francesco Farioli in Amsterdam after the Italian saw his side squander a nine-point lead in the Eredivise title race to rivals PSV Eindhoven.

Alcaraz to stay at Everton

Charly Alcaraz is staying at Everton after impressing on loan, with the Toffees triggering the option to make his switch from Flamengo permanent.

The 22-year-old will sign a two-year contract at the Merseyside club, who have paid an undisclosed sum to the Brazilian club.

The Argentinian, formerly of Southampton, registered five goal involvements from 16 appearances since his January switch to Goodison Park.

What’s on today?

A place in the Football League is up for grabs at Wembley as Oldham meet Southend in the Nations League promotion play-off.

Oldham, who finished fifth in the regular season, are looking to regain EFL status after three seasons in the National League. Southend, who finished seventh, were relegated in 2021.

A National League final record crowd of 50,000 is expected.

Published: 01/06/2025 by Radio NewsHub