News, goals, and analysis – only on the official A BOLA app. Kai Havertz, Arsenal star, confessed that he thought the club would cancel the celebration parade for winning the Premier League after the painful defeat in the UEFA Champions League final. The 27-year-old German forward scored the opening goal just five minutes into last month’s final in Budapest against PSG. However, the Gunners ended up losing on penalties, suffering a harsh setback just 11 days after winning the English championship for the first time in 22 years. It is worth noting that Arsenal’s celebration parade had been postponed, as the club was in its second Champions League final ever, and the first since 2005, with the possibility of celebrating a historic double. In statements to The Guardian, Havertz admitted the difficulty of the moment. “To be honest, it was tough. After the game, I initially thought we were going to cancel everything. The next morning, things already seemed different,” he revealed. Despite the disappointment, the celebration took place and was a resounding success, with around 1.5 million people filling the streets, according to the Metropolitan Police. Havertz described the experience as unforgettable. “We had a fantastic season behind us. The club hadn’t won the championship in 22 years, so it had to be properly celebrated with the fans,” he stated. “I have to say I’ve never experienced anything like this. So many people in the streets, so many supporting us. It’s in my top three experiences as a professional,” he admitted. With the club season over, Havertz’s focus is now on the World Cup. “Qatar was not successful for us as a team and for me personally,” the forward acknowledged. “There is a different energy in our squad now. I quickly became convinced that things would go better this year. We knew we had a duty not to fail early again. We are Germany. But now the tournament is really starting,” he explained, already with qualification for the knockout stage.
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