Budapest's Puskas Arena will stage Saturday's Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal. The Hungarian capital is a fitting venue for Europe's premier club competition, but the tournament remains a closed shop, argues former Germany captain Philipp Lahm.
A Tribute to Simeone and the Finalists
Before the final, Lahm spares a thought for Diego Simeone, the Atletico Madrid coach who has consistently overachieved with limited resources. He compares him to Sisyphus, deserving of a Champions League title. The finalists, PSG and Arsenal, are led by coaches Luis Enrique and Mikel Arteta, who employ ball-oriented zonal marking, turning their teams into cohesive swarms. PSG, once individualistic, have become a unit under Enrique, while Arsenal's strength lies in their high organisation, conceding only six goals in 14 Champions League matches this season.
Budapest: The Right Venue
Lahm believes Budapest is the perfect location for the final, praising Hungary's recent political shift towards European solidarity. He recalls scenes of celebration after the parliamentary election, hoping similar scenes unfold on Saturday. However, he laments that Hungarian clubs have no chance of participating in such a final due to the Champions League's gated community nature. Since Porto's win in 2004, only clubs from Spain, Italy, Germany, France, and England have won, despite the Premier League's financial dominance.
The Problem of Small Nations
The monotony stems from a geographical accident: clubs from small countries cannot compete because their leagues are too small and uncompetitive. Former giants like Benfica and Ajax have fallen behind due to the limited population of Portugal and the Netherlands. Lahm argues that cities like Copenhagen, Vienna, Prague, Kyiv, Glasgow, and Warsaw offer quality of life comparable to Paris or London, yet their clubs cannot retain top talent. Hungary, with its rich football tradition—including two World Cup final appearances and the legendary Golden Team—deserves a return to the football map.
A Call for Change
Lahm calls for addressing the lack of equal opportunities in European football. He acknowledges resistance from the privileged establishment but insists that participation and equal chances are the political imperative of the present. The Champions League must open up to allow clubs from smaller nations to compete on a level playing field.
