In an interview with Fútbol y Pizarrón, 57-year-old Jürgen Klopp, a leading figure in European soccer, gave a glowing analysis of Paris Saint-Germain. The former Liverpool coach praises the modern style of play advocated by Luis Enrique (55), highlighting the versatility and technical level of the Parisians in the last Champions League final.
Klopp “So this is the new soccer”.
“We saw the Champions League final and PSG played modern soccer. Watch the match and you’ll see 11 top players on the pitch. Watch the match and you’ll see midfielders on both teams who are real footballers. (…)
Klopp “I think he pressed the keeper 40 times in the final (55 pressings in all over the match, ed. note), it’s completely crazy.”
And then there’s Dembélé, who played for a number of different teams. Some people said he was a different person, with a difficult character, that he couldn’t do certain things, that hard work wasn’t his thing. He’s a genius with the ball, right foot, left foot. I think he pressed the keeper 40 times in the final. That’s what modern soccer is all about. Any player can do anything.
Klopp “In the past, you had your position, your opponent and you played against him”.
The goalkeeper has to be able to play soccer, the full-backs have to be able to create attacking chances, the midfielders have to be able to work out the play but also be strong defensively and physically. They must also be intelligent enough to anticipate situations. Midfielders have to work hard and win the ball back constantly.
Offensive players have to be creative, good at finishing and ready to defend. That’s modern soccer. In the past, you had your position, your opponent and you played against him. If he had no impact on the match, you’d have a good game. That’s the old days. A lot has happened between then and now
Klopp: “There are so many positives to take from this Champions League final”.
My dream has always been to manage a team full of excellent footballers, to whom I could teach the importance of defending well and then let them play. And then Pep Guardiola invented Barça, and I said to myself: “This is very close to my ideal soccer team”. There are so many positive things to take from this Champions League final. I really think Luis Enrique has done an incredible job. The soccer PSG are playing is modern soccer”, comments translated by Culture PSG.
Paris Saint-Germain left a monumental impression in the 2024-2025 Champions League, crowned by a resounding 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final. This historic triumph, the club’s first European crown, has been hailed as a real turning point for French and European soccer. Praise poured in from all quarters, underlining not only the team’s technical and tactical superiority, but also its incredible collective cohesion and total commitment on the pitch.
PSG demonstrated complete mastery, with a dominant midfield and solid defense, perfectly embodying the modern soccer extolled by Jürgen Klopp. The collective performance, in which every player defended and attacked with intensity, impressed observers and fans alike, who celebrated the coronation with fervor on the Champs-Élysées, testifying to the emotion and pride aroused by this victory.
This success is seen as the reward for a patiently-built project, for a playing identity asserted by Luis Enrique, and for a team capable of competing with the best European sides, and even surpassing them in spectacular fashion.
