Can Simone Inzaghi get Inter Milan over the line this time around?
The Italian coach has guided the Nerazzurri back to the Champions League final for the second time in three years, and now face an in-form Paris Saint-Germain side in Uefa's showpiece even in Munich.
Two years ago, Inzaghi's men fell to Manchester City in Istanbul, in a game many believed they should've won.
Then, only Romelu Lukaku prevented Inter taking City into extra-time.
Two years on and the three-time European champions want to right the wrongs of that night in the Turkish capital.
Inter lost the Scudetto on the final day of the Serie A season to Napoli, and after also losing in the Coppa Italia semi final to AC Milan, Europe remains their only chance of winning silverware this season.
For Inzaghi and many of his side, this feels like a now or never moment. The coach has been linked with a massive money move to Saudi Arabia side Al-Hilal, and other members of the squad are in their 30s and likely won't get another chance to secure Uefa's premier club competition.
Francesco Acerbi, Yann Sommer, Hakan Calhanoglu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are all in their early to mid-30s, while Acerbi is closer to 40 than 30.
Some of these players will likely never get another chance again, and they have to take it in Munich.
That element could spur some of Inzaghi's battle-hardened veterans on, against a PSG side that are younger and have more vigour about them.
Luis Enrique's side have been nothing short of fantastic in the latter rounds of the competition after failing to impress in the new group stage format.
Aston Villa, Liverpool and Arsenal were all seen off en route to Munich, and the tactical battle between the Spaniard's 4-3-3 and Inzaghi's 3-5-2 will be a sight to behold.
Luis Enrique has won this trophy before, of course. His first time also came against Italian opposition in the shape of Juventus, a decade ago in Berlin.
Then, he could call on the services of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar at the peak of their powers. Now, he has Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola ready to inflict damage.
For PSG, winning the Champions League could represent QSI's decade-plus pursuit of Europe's biggest trophy. For Inter, victory would rubber-stamp this current period of greatness under Inzaghi, lifting the one major trophy missing from his four-year spell at the club.
It's also the first time either of these two sides have met in a competitive setting, adding further intrigue.
It's easy to bill the final as defence against attack, youth against experience, but it's more nuanced than that.
Inter have that perfect blend of both, with Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolo Barella, Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram all in the prime of their careers.
All four will likely have a big say in Munich, especially Martinez, who hasn't kicked a ball since the win over Barcelona three weeks ago.
A winner is hard to judge, and that's how all Champions League finals should be. Now, all that's left is hopes of a good match.
Comments