Dumfries speaks of ‘experience’ towards the Champions League final: ‘Believe me’

When Internazionale reached the final of the Champions League for the last time, Denzel Dumfries was still playing for Spartaan ’20 from Rotterdam. In the C2. A career as a professional football player was miles away, especially playing in the final battle of the highest European football tournament.

But he’s really there tonight, thirteen years later. Flying over the right flank of the current Inter, a team that, like Dumfries, mainly excels in willpower and discipline. Against the dreaded football machine Manchester City.

That Inter would come this far, just like Dumfries’ advance to the football Valhalla, was not necessarily in line with expectations. Certainly not after the group stage draw, which condemned Italy’s current number three to what Dumfries calls the “group of death”, with Barcelona, ​​Bayern Munich and Viktoria Pilsen.

But Inter finished second behind Bayern, so that not Barcelona (as the ‘connoisseurs’ predicted), but the ‘Nerazzurri’ continued.

After that, three more knockout rounds had to be survived. Although it must be said that Inter could have done worse. Inter met FC Porto, Benfica and AC Milan after the winter, where City had to deal with title holders Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.

But Dumfries wants nothing to do with an ‘easy schedule’. “Of course you were on the right side in terms of names, but if you look critically. Porto played with so much intensity. Not normal. Benfica is characterized by the high level this year.”

“And the Milan derby in the semi-finals of the Champions League…”, the Orange international continues. “Then you speak of a completely different experience. There are very different emotions involved. Believe me”,

And yet Manchester City, the champions of England, are the favorites tonight. The ever-positive Dumfries agrees, but believes in himself and his team at all times. “We have shown this season that it is difficult to play against us.”

Dumfries certainly thinks it is no wonder that Inter reached the final this year. “In 2010 you already saw that Inter is capable of winning the Champions League.” At the time, Wesley Sneijder played in Milan with José Mourinho as coach.

Compatriot Nathan Aké plays at opponent City. The difference between Dumfries and Aké is perhaps exemplary for the contrast between the two teams.

Where Inter has to rely on hard work tonight, City is the team of pure footballers. For example, Dumfries played for an amateur club in 2010 (not even in the first C-team), while Aké was already known as a great talent.

Left back Aké played in the youth at Feyenoord and then left for Chelsea for about 800,000 euros. He and Dumfries know each other well, because they play together at Orange. They have never faced each other.

Aké is now first choice at City, where he was not allowed to participate for even a minute in the final battle against Chelsea (0-1) two years ago. And Dumfries, who moved from PSV to Italy in 2021, is also a regular face in his team’s basic team.

After 2010, things went fast for the right wing defender. He returned to his ‘old love’ Smitshoek in 2011 and then ended up at Sparta Rotterdam, sc Heerenveen, PSV and therefore Inter via BVV Barendrecht.

Despite the surplus of quality at City, Dumfries is confident in a good outcome: “We are looking forward to it.” And why not? Dumfries’ career so far has been an extremely successful fight against expectations.