He Was Spot On! Benni McCarthy’s UEFA Champions League Prophecy Turns Out to Be True Sevens Months Later
Football fans are looking forward to the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan but for Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy, it is not a surprise.
PSG made it to the final after eliminating Premier League side Arsenal while Inter secured a dramatic semi-final victory against Barcelona to set up the mouth-watering clash.
However, in a competition that had holders Real Madrid, Manchester City and even Liverpool, who had a great first phase, many perhaps expected different names in the final but McCarthy was already convinced as early as October 2024 about one of the finalists.
“Inter Milan have shown great promise, I think the way they played against Manchester City, not many teams come to the Etihad [and play like that]. Not even Real Madrid could do to them what Inter has done,” the former Manchester United first-team coach said last October while analysing the Champions League on SuperSport TV.
How did Inter Milan Make it to the UCL Final?
“Inter showed that they have a team that can [win the UCL], but do they have the metal to go all the way, I don’t know.”
Well, Inter have truly shown that they can go all the way and now remain with one hurdle, to beat French giants PSG and lift their fourth European crown and a first one since 2010.
Inter had a great Champions League first round phase that included an exciting goalless draw with Manchester City at the Etihad, the match McCarthy was referring to, and also beat Arsenal before going on to eliminate Feyenoord in the Round of 16, Bayern Munich in the quarter-final and Barcelona in the semis.
Simone Inzaghi’s team, built on defensive solidity, are a hardworking side who run opponents rugged, and should offer Luis Enrique’s PSG a tough time in the final in Munich on May 31 and maybe fully fulfill McCarthy’s prophecy.