Lisbon (dpa) - Coach Thomas Tuchel regards the first Champions League final in Paris Saint-Germain against a FC Bayern Munich that has been tried and tested in many European Cup finals as a "great challenge".
The German soccer record champion had a "unique run" under Hansi Flick, said the former coach of Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund and FSV Mainz 05.
Bayern are "the highest level in Europe," said Tuchel on Saturday evening in Lisbon. "It will be hard work. But we feel prepared," said the 46-year-old Tuchel with a view to the game on Sunday (9 pm) in the Estádio da Luz.
"We expect a very intense game," said Tuchel, who with PSG already pushed two German teams out of the competition in the knockout phase: Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16 and RB Leipzig in the final 8 tournament in Portugal with a clear 3-0 in the semifinals.
World champion Kylian Mbappé is looking forward to the duel with Manuel Neuer, who is "one of the best goalkeepers in the history of football". "If you want to be the best in Europe, you have to beat the best," said the 21-year-old striker. Mbappé was extremely positive about Tuchel: "He's a great coach that we believe in." PSG play the best season in the club's history under him. "The players are behind the coach."
Tuchel left it open whether the goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who was injured against Leipzig, will appear again in the final. He did not commit himself to midfielder Marco Verratti either. Both would have trained with the team. Verratti will certainly not be able to play 90 or 120 minutes. Since he had no muscle injury, there was no risk to use him, said Tuchel. "A final is not a game for big changes," said the coach.
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