Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won the Champions League for the first time by thrashing Italian side Inter 5-0 on Saturday.
It’s the most one-sided final in the tournament’s history, eclipsing Inter’s city rivals AC Milan’s 4-0 win over Barcelona in 1994.
PSG gave their opponents no chance from the start of the match in Munich, Germany.
The 19-year-old French forward Desire Doue scored twice for PSG and set up the opening goal for Achraf Hakimi in the stadium usually used by Bayern Munich before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia made it four and substitute Senny Mayulu completed the scoring.
“I can’t find the words. This is my biggest dream,” Doue said. “We have written history.”
Portuguese midfielder Vitinha, who was one of PSG’s creative sparks, said: “This means everything. It’s my dream, it’s our dream. It’s incredible. The result is not by magic. I’m happy we did it like this, we’re now going to celebrate.”
Qatari-owned PSG are just the second French club since Marseille in 1993 to win European football’s top trophy.
The victory comes five years after they lost to Bayern Munich in their only previous final appearance.
Celebrations marred by violence
The nationwide celebrations for PSG’s victory involved several cases of violence, resulting in two deaths, one police officer being left in a coma and numerous arrests.
A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death during a street party in the town of Dax in southwestern France. Another man was killed in France when his scooter was hit by a car during the celebrations.
In Coutance in northwestern France, a police officer was put into an artificial coma after a firework accidentally hit him, causing serious injury to his eyes.
Although much of the celebrating remained peaceful, the cases of violence led to hundreds of people being arrested.
Macron to receive PSG players at Elysee
French President Emmanuel Macron will host PSG’s victorious team on Sunday to congratulate them on their victory, his office said.
In a separate message on X, Macron hailed a “day of glory for PSG.”
“Bravo, we are all proud,” he wrote. “Paris is the capital of Europe tonight.”
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo hailed it as a “historic” win.
Supporters in the French capital set off fireworks and hung out of moving cars waving PSG scarves, as they delighted in their side’s victory.
Nearby, the Eiffel Tower lit up in PSG’s blue and red colors.
Some 5,400 police officers were deployed across the city for the post-match celebrations.
Police on the Champs-Elysees used tear gas and pepper spray to maintain order.
A police spokesman said a car was set alight near the Parc des Princes, PSG’s home ground, and that several dozen arrests had been made by the time the match ended.
‘Time to have a big party’
The club has undergone a change in emphasis under coach Luis Enrique.
They have replaced big names such as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe with up-and-coming talents and tried to increasingly focus on young French players like Doue and Mayulu.
Enrique had previously won the title as coach with Barcelona in 2015. He joins an elite group of coaches to win the prize for two different clubs, including Carlo Ancelotti, Ottmar Hitzfeld, Jupp Heynckes, Ernst Happel, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho.
“It’s time to have a big party,” said Enrique. “We have to make the most of this moment,” added the 55-year-old.
“I feel this connection with the players and the supporters, it’s very strong. It’s a great moment, we deserve it. We managed to control the tension.”
Edited by: Sean Sinico and Wesley Dockery
