Denzel Dumfries has not fully processed the thrashing in the Champions League final with Inter Milan against Paris Saint-Germain (5-0), even though he has been with the Dutch national team for almost a week. The right-back scored against Finland on Saturday at the start of the World Cup qualification (0-2).
“Whether I have been able to put the final behind me? Well, that’s still difficult,” Dumfries said Saturday evening shortly after the victory in Helsinki. “Sometimes I still wake up and think: what happened? No, I haven’t gotten over it yet.”
Two years ago, the 29-year-old Dumfries already lost a Champions League final with Inter Milan against Manchester City (1-0), but the loss last weekend against PSG may have hit even harder. Never before has a club gone down so hard in a European final.
“We had been looking forward to the final with Inter for a long time,” Dumfries continued. “And with the best intentions. But it just didn’t come out. PSG was lord and master, and we had an off day. That’s hard to accept.”
The contrast was great with Inter’s spectacular semi-finals against Barcelona, in which Dumfries scored twice.
“At certain moments it was a very good season, but we didn’t win any prizes. Come on, that’s not how I had imagined it. That hurts, but I try to stay positive. That’s also in me. Here with the Dutch national team I am in a different environment. That helps with the processing.”
A week after the lost Champions League final, Dumfries played as usual against Finland. Halfway through the first half, he went forward and shot in a cross from Cody Gakpo at the second post (0-2).
“At times I was able to play the Champions League final off me. I am happy with my goal and the three points. What kind of victory was it? A businesslike one. At the end of the match, the energy was a bit out. That shouldn’t really be the case, but it may be logical after a long season.”
Dumfries’ season is not over yet. On Tuesday he will play with the Dutch national team against Malta in Groningen and then the Club World Cup in the United States awaits with Inter Milan.
“That is special after such a long season. Normally you would now be done with Inter and you would come together in a few weeks with a fresh perspective for a new season. Now we have to pick it up again with everyone. But we are going to that World Cup to represent the club as well as possible.”