'I have no choice' - Jay Jay Okocha admits PSG's Champions League heroes would force him to press

Nigerian legend Jay Jay Okocha has made a telling revelation after the recent UEFA Champions League final in Munich, where his former club Paris Saint-Germain made history by clinching their first-ever Champions League title with a dominant 5-0 victory over Inter Milan.

The match showed the relentless pressing and hard work of PSG’s front three, led by Ousmane Dembélé, which left a lasting impression on football legends present at the event.

During a conversation, former England and Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves, working as a pundit on TNT Sports, posed a thought-provoking question to Nigerian football legend Jay Jay Okocha.

He asked Okocha who hailed his ex-club for making it look easy to imagine himself playing in the front three of the current PSG team that had just secured the historic win, and whether he would press as intensely as they did.

“Well, I have no choice. When you are around great players, they make you look good,” Okocha responded, acknowledging his teammates' collective effort and high standards.

Okocha further praised the mental strength and dedication of the PSG forwards, noting that their pressing was not just physical but deeply rooted in mindset.

“It is hard work. But it’s in the mind. If everything is working out well, you don’t mind going the extra mile for the team, and I think that was what they did,” he said.

The Champions League final in Munich was a testament to PSG’s evolution into a well-oiled team unit, where individual brilliance is complemented by relentless teamwork and tactical discipline.

The front three’s pressing disrupted Inter Milan’s rhythm and paved the way for a comprehensive victory, stressing the importance of mental and physical commitment at the highest level.

Okocha’s reflections provide insight into the mindset required to succeed in modern football, especially when playing alongside world-class talents in high-stakes matches like the Champions League final.