As Paris Saint-Germain tightened the screws on Arsenal over two absorbing hours, the drums in the crowd behind the goal matched their relentless intensity. It was enough to push PSG past Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after the Champions League final in Budapest ended 1-1 after extra time on Saturday.
Players, crowd and coach — PSG are a club united.
"Today, we can say we are the best in Europe. We take pleasure in playing with this group. We're all humble, and that makes you want to give more. But we just want to celebrate with the people of Paris," said Vitinha, PSG's Portuguese midfielder who was named man of the match.
Arsenal's own brand of collective will dragged the Qatari-owned Parisians to penalties, but the English side will carry over their quest for a first Champions League into next season. PSG, however, have become just the second club, after Real Madrid, to retain the Champions League since it was rebranded in 1992.
For all that Luis Enrique's side possesses, sublime attacking talent, smart, physical defenders and nimble, creative midfielders, it is perhaps the Spanish coach's greatest feat that this is a team in the truest sense.
