Paris Saint-Germain’s resounding 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final on May 31, 2025, at Munich’s Allianz Arena marked a historic moment for the club, securing their first-ever European Cup. However, the celebrations that followed have left some of PSG’s French players in what forward Ousmane Dembele described as a “strange state” as they prepare to join the national team. France coach Didier Deschamps, according to Dembele, may find his squad less than fully focused when they report to Clairefontaine on Monday for the upcoming Nations League semi-final against Spain.
The Parisians’ triumph, driven by a brace from teenager Desire Doue and standout performances from Dembele, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Senny Mayulu, sparked widespread jubilation in Paris. Fans flooded the streets to celebrate the club’s long-awaited European glory, a feat that eluded even the star-studded squads of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe in years past. However, the festivities took a chaotic turn, with reports of two deaths, nearly 500 arrests, and a police officer left in a coma amid the celebrations, according to French authorities. A man in his 20s was struck by a car, and a teenager was stabbed during the chaotic scenes, overshadowing the joy of the victory.
Dembele, who earned two assists in the final and has been a standout performer for PSG this season with 33 goals across all competitions, spoke lightheartedly about the team’s condition post-celebration. “There you go, we’ve made a whole nation, a whole city proud. And, like they say, the party is just getting started,” he said, before adding with a grin that Deschamps might encounter his players in an unusual state when they regroup for international duty. The French contingent from PSG, including Lucas Hernandez, Warren Zaire-Emery, Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue, and Dembele himself, are due to join the national team to prepare for Thursday’s critical match against Spain.
The forward, recently named Ligue 1 Player of the Season and a contender for the Ballon d’Or, urged fans to keep celebrations peaceful as PSG’s trophy parade went ahead on Sunday despite the earlier unrest. “It’s exceptional, what just happened. Winning finals is great, but doing it in this way is even better, it’s even more thrilling,” Dembele said, reflecting on the team’s dominant performance. PSG’s victory, under the guidance of coach Luis Enrique, showcased a youthful squad that outclassed a more experienced Inter Milan side, with Doue’s dynamic runs and Dembele’s relentless pressing setting the tone early.
For Deschamps, the task of harnessing his players’ focus after such an intense period will be no small feat. The Nations League semi-final looms as a crucial step toward adding more silverware to France’s cabinet, but the PSG players’ high spirits could complicate preparations. Dembele’s comments, though delivered with humor, hint at the challenge of transitioning from club euphoria to international discipline. As France aims to build on their 2021 Nations League title, Deschamps will hope his stars can channel their celebratory energy into performance on the pitch.