Barella: ‘Tactics don’t count as much as heart’ in Champions Final

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 18: Nicolo’ Barella of FC Internazionale is challenged by Matias Vecino of SS Lazio during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SS Lazio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 18, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Nicolò Barella points out Inter have already beaten Barcelona and Bayern Munich, so they are ready for PSG in the Champions Final. ‘Tactics count to a certain degree, ultimately you need heart.’

It kicks off in Munich on Saturday May 31 at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT, 21.00 CET).

This is the same stadium where the Nerazzurri already emerged with a 2-1 victory thanks to a late Davide Frattesi strike in the quarter-final against Bayern Munich.

“It is a wonderful memory of Frattesi’s goal, it was a great Inter performance,” Barella told Sky Sport Italia standing on the same turf.

“Now we need another one. We had some big quarter-finals and semi-finals, beating some of the best teams in the world in Bayern Munich and Barcelona, so we respect everyone, including PSG.

“We need to be aware that we’ll need to suffer at times and play a real Inter performance, which means staying solid and then scoring goals when we get the possibilità.”

Barella assures Inter learned from setbacks

While Inter had been in the running for the Treble only a few months ago, they now risk ending the season empty-handed after falling in the Coppa Italia semi-final to Milan, then losing the Serie A title by a single point to Napoli.

“This is football, you have to get back on your feet straight after falling down,” assured Barella.

“We have always done that in recent years. We could’ve done better this season, but now we are going into the most important match of the season, in the most important competition in the world.

“We will try not to remain empty-handed and will do everything possible to bring the trophy home. It would be the closure of something we started several years ago.”

While Marquinhos is the only remaining PSG figure from their Champions Final defeat in 2020, Inter are practically the same team that lost to Manchester City in 2023.

“Many of us have experience of the Final, so we are enjoying this to the full. We also know that tactics count to a certain degree, ultimately you need heart more than anything else. We will do our best.”

The Opta Supercomputer calculates that Paris Saint-Germain are the favourites going into the Final tomorrow, but Barella disagrees.

“Every match starts with 50-50, the teams have to do their talking on the pitch.”