Hakimi confident PSG can overcome Inter in Champions League final

Achraf Hakimi has expressed confidence in Paris Saint-Germain’s readiness for the UEFA Champions League final, revealing that he already knows “what to do” to guide the French club to their first-ever European title.

The Moroccan international, who previously played for Inter Milan and came through the ranks at Real Madrid, is preparing for a showdown that is both personal and professional.

Having spent formative years with both clubs, Hakimi believes his insight into Inter’s tactical approach gives him and PSG a strategic advantage ahead of the final.

“Inter are a strong side. They’ve eliminated big teams to get here, and they have a very defined style of play with excellent players,” Hakimi said in an interview with Sky Sports.

“We’ll need to stay fully focused because this is going to be a very tough match. But we want to win our first Champions League.”

Hakimi’s journey to this stage of the competition has given him valuable experience. A product of Real Madrid’s youth academy, he was part of a squad that regularly reached the latter stages of Europe’s elite competition.

Though he was young during his time at the Santiago Bernabéu, Hakimi absorbed crucial lessons about composure and preparation—lessons he now draws upon as a key player for PSG.

“I was very young back then,” he recalled. “I remember watching the more experienced players closely to understand how to behave and prepare for such a big occasion. Now I feel calm. I go about my daily routine as usual.”

The full-back’s calmness belies the significance of the moment for PSG. Despite the club’s domestic dominance, European success has remained elusive.

The final against Inter presents a historic opportunity for the French champions to claim their first UEFA Champions League title. For Hakimi, it’s also a chance to make a personal statement against a former club he still respects.

Following his departure from Real Madrid, Hakimi joined Inter Milan, where he played a pivotal role in helping the club win the Serie A title under Antonio Conte.

His time in Italy not only improved his tactical understanding of the game but also gave him deep insight into the workings of his former teammates and the system they operate in—an asset PSG will hope to capitalize on.

“Inter is a club I respect a lot. I played there, I know the environment, the players, and their mentality,” Hakimi noted. “That knowledge gives me an idea of how to approach the game.”

While PSG’s attack often takes the headlines, Hakimi’s contribution from the right flank has been instrumental in their European campaign. His ability to transition quickly from defence to attack and deliver dangerous balls into the box could prove decisive against an organised and compact Inter side.

As anticipation builds for the final, all eyes will be on Istanbul, where PSG’s star-studded lineup will look to etch their names into the club’s history books.

For Hakimi, it is a full-circle moment—a chance to put into practice everything he learned at Real Madrid and Inter, and finally lift the trophy that has long eluded his current club.