Reporting from Munich for “Vijesti”

This marks my fifth Champions League final in eight years. In all prior instances, teams I didn’t root for took home the trophy—Real Madrid snagging it three times, while Manchester City and Chelsea each claimed it once. Tonight, my beloved Inter may have slimmer chances of winning the cup, yet hope persists until the end.

After numerous dramatic turns, Paris Saint-Germain has parted ways with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. However, their affluent Qatari owners realized the key to winning lies with the coach. With Luis Enrique at the helm, they find themselves in the Champions League final, boasting stars like Hakimi from Morocco and Kvarachelia from Georgia.

Inter was just weeks away from their finest season—having clinched the cup and reached the European final—before stumbling against Lazio, which cost them the title in Italy. This setback now places them in a delicate position, facing the formidable challenge of going up against Paris Saint-Germain.

The streets of Munich are alive with a carnival spirit, particularly in the city center and the renowned Marienplatz. The vibrant presence of blue and black jerseys creates an ambiance reminiscent of Milan rather than Munich.

The roar of Inter’s supporters echoes in my memory from Istanbul during their final against City, illustrating their dominance in the stands. Visualizing this atmosphere on the pitch is a different matter entirely. As football commentator Predrag Mijatović remarked this morning, the matchup is intriguing due to the contrasting styles—PSG’s energetic offense versus Inter’s rigid defense.

Tradition favors the Italians, as Inter has triumphed in three of their six Champions League finals, while PSG has lost their lone appearance. Experience is also on Inter’s side, marking this as their seventh final compared to PSG’s second. Yet, there are notable statistics working against Inter. Out of five previous Champions League finals held in Munich, only two featured Italian teams—Milan in 1993 and Juventus in 1996—and both were defeated, first by Marseille and then by Borussia Dortmund.

Despite these statistics, they are unlikely to dictate the outcome tonight. In crucial matches, it’s often the finer details that make a difference, and I suspect that will hold true this time. Outside the stadium, I encountered a group of fans from Podgorica. Donning Inter jerseys, they lacked tickets but their devotion to the “nerazzurri” prompted them to travel to Munich simply to support their team from the streets!

This morning, at the “Bayrischer Hof” hotel—booked by UEFA for this occasion—world-renowned football luminaries and various celebrities have been promoting the event. The famed Turkish chef Nusret is present, and I can only hope he doesn’t steal the spotlight during medal presentations like he did in Doha at the 2022 World Cup. Figures like Figo, Zanetti, Galliani, and Pirlo—longtime rivals of Inter and Milan—are united in spirit today. The venue also attracts business professionals; I’ve spotted numerous individuals from our region, including Bokan, Kovač, and Čelebić.

Of course, politicians are in attendance as well. Recently victorious in the Albanian elections, Rama is here to celebrate, chatting with the president of the Albanian football federation. I approached him and he surprisingly greeted me warmly, recalling our “friendly battle” from October 2023 in Tirana at the SEEMO forum.

I also ran into Zoran Janković, the mayor of Ljubljana. Curiously, I asked him about his support for Vučić during challenging times, and he simply replied, “I never abandon a friend. Not Milo or Vučić.” How small the world is—he found himself in Hugo, a popular cafe in Munich, sharing space with Andrej Milović, another ardent Inter supporter, who claimed to have a ticket. He sipped espresso and recounted his past losses, attributing some blame to “Vijesti.” I chuckled and remarked, “Now that you’re in opposition, you’re on my side.” As a toast, I ordered a Prosecco.

It’s nearly time to head to the stadium. I board the U6 subway line heading to “Allianz Arena.” The platform is buzzing with excitement as “nerazzurri” chant their anthems, and faint snippets of French can be heard in the background. Let’s go. May the best team prevail.

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