The former Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen awill support Arsenalhis former club, in the Champions League final, but assures that the PSG that has built Luis Enrique has conquered him thanks to a coach who already fascinated him when he coached him on the bench FC Barcelona.
“If you ask me who has been the best coach of my career, I would cite Luis Enrique among the greatest. I loved my time with him at Barcelona (2014-2016). He is a very honest and authentic technician.. “I’m happy that he’s achieving something great at PSG,” he said in an interview published by the DH Les Sports newspaper.
The former Belgian international, However, in the final he will support the gunners of Mikel Arteta, as he has good memories of the club in which he played 150 games between 2009 and 2014, and that still welcomes him when he goes to the stadium. But he also loves PSG.
“Evidently I will support Arsenal in the final, but I must say that Paris has managed to win me over. At first I didn’t like that club at all that simply buys the best players without a real idea behind it.. But Luis has managed to build a team at PSG, with very talented young people. I enjoy watching them play. “It will be tough for Arsenal, but in a final anything is possible,” he commented.
Praise for Arteta and Arsenal
Vermaelen, who He spent three active seasons with Arteta at Arsenal, I already thought then that the Spaniard would end up becoming a coach.
“I played three seasons with Mikel Arteta, although we have not maintained contact. He has managed to create a solid team, which defends together. He is a very good coach. Mikel was the type of player that everyone knew would end up being a coach.. Like Vincent Kompany,” he said.
The one who was also defender for Ajax, FC Barcelona and Roma, 40 years old and retired in 2022 after spending his last three years as a player for Japanese team Kobe, He celebrated that the team led by his former teammate has been proclaimed champion of the Premier League after 22 years of drought.
“I don’t watch much football on television, but I have followed this. SI always look at what my old clubs are doing and I’m still a real Arsenal fan. Sometimes I still go to the stadium, although it’s rare. “They always welcome me well, and that’s nice,” he said.
“I’m really happy because we had to wait a long time to win the title again.”. I know how difficult it is to win the Premier League. I didn’t get it in my time. Luckily, at least we won the Cup in my last season,” he recalled about the 150 games that Vermaelen disputed with the gunners between 2009 and 2014.
