'Best Champions League performance there’s ever been' - Steven Gerrard blown away by PSG as Owen Hargreaves predicts decade of dominance

Paris Saint-Germain's outstanding UEFA Champions League campaign reached an incredible climax in Munich as they obliterated three-time winners Internazionale. After many seasons of underwhelming performances in Europe's top club competition, PSG's youthful and vibrant squad claimed the club's first title. Steven Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves were among those keen to praise Luis Enrique's side.

Steven Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves heaped praise on Paris Saint-Germain after their 5-0 annihilation of Internazionale in the UEFA Champions League final.

PSG won their first European title after crushing Simone Inzaghi’s side in Munich thanks to Desire Doue's brace and a strike each from Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Senny Mayulu.

It ensured the Parisians became the first side to win either a European Cup or the Champions League by a five-goal margin.

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Meanwhile, Luis Enrique became the first manager to complete a treble with two clubs after doing so with Barcelona in 2015.

Hargreaves waxed lyrical about their performance in Bavaria, and believes this could be the start of a golden era in the club’s history.

"That was a masterclass in every phase," he said on TNT Sports. "In possession, out of possession, work rate, effort. The manager is the architect of this.

"These guys are going to be the team to beat, for potentially a decade. They're in their early 20s, the only older one is Marquinhos who is 31. The rest of them are brilliant young players and they're going to get better."

Doue finishes off superb move as PSG go three clear

Video credit: TNT Sports

Gerrard believes this was the best performance there has ever been in Europe’s premier club competition.

When asked about what it would take for the Spaniard to join a group of elite managers, the former Liverpool captain replied: "Go and put in the best Champions League performance there's ever been. I'm 45 years of age and I've never seen a performance like that. Challenge that.

"The talent across this squad, it's a special group of players, and they're getting coached by a special person as well."

Those sentiments were echoed by Rio Ferdinand, who feels this performance signals a huge statement of intent for an immensely talented PSG side.

Kvaratskhelia adds a fourth as PSG run riot against Inter

Video credit: TNT Sports

Ferdinand said: "In the knockout stages they looked like the team to beat for me, but to come into a final with such inexperience at this level, and to perform with the confidence and purity that we saw today, is absolutely amazing.

"It's looking ominous for the other teams who will have to go some way to stay with this team because they're a young, hungry and vibrant team who have a manager that has instilled a mentality in this team which makes this a train which is hard to stop."

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Watch the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League on TNT Sports and discovery+

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