Seven months after Paris Saint-Germain’s historic Champions League triumph in Munich, Vitinha still hasn’t watched the final again. The Portuguese midfielder, a key figure in PSG’s 5–0 demolition of Inter Milan on May 31, 2025, explained why in an interview with Portuguese daily A Bola.
“In none of the scenarios did we win 5–0”
May 31, 2025. Munich. A date etched forever into PSG history. After years of frustration, Paris finally lifted the Champions League trophy — and did so in stunning fashion.
“I was actually talking about it with friends just the other day,” Vitinha said.
“Can you imagine what goes through a player’s mind the night before a Champions League final, when he’s trying to sleep? Thousands of scenarios run through your head — positive ones, negative ones — and in none of them, truly none, did we win 5–0 so convincingly.
“It was one of the best days of my life.”
While teammate Désiré Doué admitted with a smile at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai that he has already rewatched the final several times, Vitinha has deliberately avoided doing so.
“It would keep me stuck in the past”
The PSG midfielder explained his reasoning clearly — and with remarkable discipline.
“I haven’t watched the full match yet,” Vitinha revealed.
“I would love to, but it would keep me a little stuck in the past. And you have to keep performing every three days, winning, staying competitive.
“I don’t want to let myself drift into euphoria. I don’t want to watch it and think, ‘Ah…’ because it’s over. It was amazing, yes — but it’s finished.”
Vitinha admits that rewatching the final would feel good — perhaps too good.
“It flatters my ego, it makes my family happy, it makes everyone happy to say: ‘Look what we accomplished.’
“But for now, it would put me in a state I can’t afford. I have to stay alert. I have to want more, and better. It’s exhausting, it’s difficult — but it brings more results than simply enjoying a Champions League final.”
Luis Enrique’s key message before the final
Vitinha also revealed how Luis Enrique’s approach played a decisive role in PSG’s mindset before the match.
“The coach was essential,” he said.
“Two or three days before the final, what do you say to players? You don’t need to motivate anyone for a Champions League final. And he did the opposite — he tried to calm us down.”
Luis Enrique’s message was simple, but powerful:
“He told us: ‘Calm down. The team that wins will be the one closest to 100%. You’ll be at 150, 160, 170 — but come back down to earth. They’ll be at 120 or 130.
“When you want something too badly, sometimes you block yourself. It becomes counter-productive.’”
Vitinha believes that was the turning point.
“It made perfect sense, and I think that was the key.
‘Be at 100%, but not more. More would be counter-productive. It would work against you. Don’t forget: it’s just a match. Life goes on.’”
“I saw it in their faces — they were blocked”
That calm approach paid off spectacularly on the pitch.
“I completely understand his message,” Vitinha continued.
“Life goes on. We know how important it was, especially after the journey we had. But I thought: if they give everything and we’re more relaxed, even slightly below 100%, they’ll be too far above us — and that’s exactly what happened.”
Vitinha recalls sensing Inter’s confusion early on.
“I saw it in their faces. They didn’t understand what was happening. They wanted to give more, but they couldn’t. They were blocked.
“We scored early, and then everything unfolded in a surreal way.”
Seven months on, the memory remains vivid — even if the match itself remains unwatched. For Vitinha, the lesson is clear: greatness isn’t just about what you achieve, but about refusing to live off it.