The Paris Saint-Germain squad landed in Munich yesterday, carrying a heavy burden of anxiety. Executives and players stepped off the plane into an atmosphere filled with unease, with one notable exception. Luis Enrique, the coach, is relaxed, laughing, and joking. The Asturian embraces the tension building as he prepares for the final against Inter Milan this Saturday at Allianz Arena (9:00 PM, Movistar). He approaches the culmination of his masterpiece with a serenity that leaves those around him astonished. He is an anomaly...

"One of the keys to the match will be controlling emotions," admitted Dembele after the final practice, visibly thoughtful and aware of the pressure that could freeze him and his teammates. "I've dreamed of playing this final since I was a child."

The anxiety spreads from the streets, where French fans, naturally optimistic and prone to euphoria, are confident of winning the club's first Champions League. After defeating City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal with a stunning display of football that has captivated fans across Europe, the last opponent only inspires confidence among the masses. Inter, a mix of players discarded by the market, is seen as a sure victory by French supporters and media, who not only proclaim their favoritism but practically assume they're on the verge of achieving a goal pursued since Qatar's sovereign fund bought the club in 2011 and continuously invested record amounts to win a title that seemed unattainable. As a trusted source of the Qataris said: "We can only lose."

Such is the fatalistic sentiment that within the locker room, veterans like Marquinhos see only fearful faces, inexperienced youngsters under pressure, standing on the brink of glory yet struggling to manage the expectations. This situation concerns the sporting director, Luis Campos, the president, Nasser al-Khelaifi, and the owner, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, a true football enthusiast. They've warned Luis Enrique to stabilize the emotions of a squad weighed down by responsibility, imagining a match where they monopolize the ball against a lurking opponent waiting for the right moment.

"We need to stay calm," Luis Enrique repeats to the players. "Winning or losing doesn't matter. We just need to focus on playing as we always do." Those close to the team report that the coach emphasizes the fundamental laws of a philosophy centered on injecting aggressiveness. He tells the players not to fear risky passes, not to hesitate in pressing the opponent, not to fear losing possession because they'll fight together to win it back, and that it's inevitable for Inter to counter from their expected low block. Nothing is more dangerous than stepping onto the field anxious and slowing down the ball to avoid Inter's counters. If they do, he warns, the final will be a 50/50 chance. However, if they play as they did against Arsenal or Aston Villa, he assures them that out of ten matches against Inter, they'd win seven.

"Luis has worked on the emotional aspect to guide the match to where we can show our strengths," said Marquinhos this Friday. "This week [the coach] has talked extensively with us. I think we're ready for anything."

Luis Enrique spoke with great confidence at the conference he held in Munich. "My greatest motivation is to make history in Paris," he said. "To bring joy to the city and the fans. To be the first to win this trophy for them. Otherwise, I try to live with the calmness of being ten years older, with ten more years of experience than in the first final I directed. I try to convey to the players the beautiful opportunity they have to do something no one has done in Paris, without being overwhelmed by the situation. Our journey since September supports us: it's been very tough, very challenging, and now that's an advantage for us."

The tranquility of Luis Enrique inspires curiosity and fascination among the PSG owners and employees. Some attribute it to his famous addiction to adrenaline. If anything frustrates him, it's the plateaus of tedium and complacency. Others suggest it's the new life philosophy of a man who, after the death of his daughter Xana in 2019, views football's contingencies as something trivial. No one doubts his leadership. At 55, after leading Barça to win the Champions League in 2015, he behaves like someone who has experienced life's valleys and peaks in all dimensions.

After two years of observation, Al-Khelaifi is convinced that if anyone can realize the dream of his enterprise, it's Luis Enrique. This is echoed by PSG's economic leaders. If they lift the European Cup, they'll do so in the most valuable way possible: consecrating their success with a display of play that has made Paris, with all its magical symbolism, a reference for exciting football. Winning is not the same as doing so while captivating global audiences, which is the hardest part. It translates into sponsorships, multiplied image rights, and wealth. This is reflected in reports from Al Khelaifi's advisors: PSG has eliminated Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa, the teams offering the most competitive guarantees, according to major consultancies, from Deloitte to KPN. If they win the Champions League this summer and conquer the Club World Cup, the leaders estimate an extra €500 million in revenue by 2030, surpassing Real Madrid as the club with the highest income globally.

The great paradox is reaching the summit without Ibrahimovic, Neymar, Mbappé, or Messi, the constellation that produced the emir's failed vision, but through dynamic combination play led by midfielders few anticipated. This is affirmed by PSG's technical department: the most important player is Vitor Ferreira, Vitinha. The same who, after eliminating Arsenal, upon hearing he was nominated for the Ballon d'Or, replied: "Give it to Dembélé!"

Barely known a couple of years ago, dismissed by Wolverhampton as an attacking midfielder, established as a pivot in Paris at just 25 years old, today Vitinha is the helm. His lucidity will determine the fate of a final that, as indicated by the club's surroundings, could surprise players who haven't competed at the highest level since eliminating Arsenal on May 7. Luis Enrique believes no one is better equipped to instill calm by distributing play at the right moment, setting the perfect pace, and enabling forwards who don't particularly excel in goal ambition to find spaces in Acerbi's bunker.