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Bayern’s Alphonso Davies will today share his dream with all Canadian soccer fans as he becomes the first Canadian to play in a UEFA Champions League final.
“Playing in the Champions League and getting to the final is everything you could ask for,” he told BT Sport after the 3-0 semi-final win over Olympique Lyonnais.
The 20-year-old’s progress has been phenomenal since leaving Vancouver Whitecaps just over a year ago for an MLS record fee of around $16m USD. Should Davies help Bayern to their sixth European title, he will earn the Whitecaps a further $1m USD.
Already he has won two domestic doubles with the Bavarian giants, but a win today will top all achievements to date in the youngster’s fledgling career.
Referred to as ‘Meep, Meep,” in reference to the road-runner cartoon character earlier in the season by experienced German international team-mate Thomas Muller, Davies impressed in the 4-1 demolition of Chelsea and the 8-2 quarter-final destruction of Barcelona.
“PSG are a good team. Right now we celebrate a bit, then we focus on the next game.
“It will be a good game - there will be goals. This is what you dream about as a footballer: playing with the best and against the best in Europe.
“It is a dream come true. Even though they [the older players in the squad] have won many many titles before they are still hungry to win this one.”
Davies has only one regret from the hammering dished out to the Catalans; he didn’t get Leo Messi’s shirt.
“I asked for it. But I think he was a little bit upset. Next time, maybe.”
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A winner’s medal in Lisbon this evening will help him forget that disappointment.
Bayern, on an incredible run of form currently, are justifiable favourites, but if there is one team which could upset them it’s multi-rich PSG. Should Neymar Junior and Kylian Mbappe hit top form, they can just about rip up that Bayern favourites tag.
I still fancy the Germans to be celebrating their sixth title however, and Vancouver Whitecaps heading to the bank with another million bucks in their pocket.