Wayne Rooney insists Paris Saint-Germain can hurt Bayern Munich with their speed and skill in tonight’s Champions League final.
The former England and Manchester United star has highlighted Bayern Munich’s high defensive line as an area for Thomas Tuchel to exploit in Lisbon.
Lyon forwards Memphis Depay and Karl Toko Ekambi spurned glorious chances in the opening 16 minutes of their 3-0 defeat to Bayern in Wednesday’s semi-final.
And Rooney has warned the Germans that PSG’s front three of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria could be more ruthless in punishing them.
“Bayern have the advantage that most of their starting line-up have played in the Champions League final before. But I have a feeling for PSG,” Rooney wrote in his column for the Sunday Times.
“It will be a shoot-out and I think with Neymar, Mbappe and Di Maria, PSG will exploit the high line that Bayern play. They will get chances and take them.
“I have no doubt that press will create chances for Bayern but PSG are good enough in possession to deal with it and once they play through it there will be opportunities for their attackers.”
The spotlight will no doubt be on Mbappe and Neymar who have combined for eight goals and nine assists in the competition thus far but Rooney, 34, believes it’s his former Manchester United team mate Di Maria that could make the difference.
“PSG’s match-winner might just be Di Maria. He’s a wonderful player. He works tirelessly on the pitch and his delivery, vision and awareness is brilliant,” Rooney said.
