Simone tips Inter for Champions League glory

Former Paris Saint-Germain and Milan striker Marco Simone has tipped Inter Milan to win this season’s UEFA Champions League.

Despite having a two-year stint with Les Parisiens, the former Italian international maintained that Inter have an extra gear compared to the Ligue 1 giants. 

Inter and PSG will square off against each other in the Champions League Final in Munich on May 31 to see who lifts the trophy at the end of this first season that used the new tournament format.

PSG, who last got to the final during the 2020 season, are yet to lift the trophy, while Inter have won it three times before, most recently in 2010 under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho.

Simone, whose career was mainly associated with Milan, pointed out that Inter are a well-organised modern team, and very efficient in their 3-5-2 formation.

He further told RMC Sport in France that they have 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,” he added.

Despite the Paris club having a massive budget to construct their squad and also with a far higher wage bill than Inter, Simone sees the Serie A giant as a team with 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.”

He believes Inter can have more weapons at their disposal than PSG. He explained that Inter can field two separate starting eleven players, and they can change up to eight players while still maintaining their shape and balance.

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