PSG/Arsenal – Luis Enrique is blunt about the Champions League final | OneFootball

Luis Enrique, Paris Saint-Germain’s coach, spoke at a press conference this Wednesday as part of Media Day ahead of the 2025-2026 Champions League final on Saturday, May 30 against Arsenal.

Luis Enrique: “You have to know how to defend and adapt.”

Have you adapted your game more to the opponent this season in the Champions League?

The most important thing for us is to look at ourselves, and much less at the opponent. That remains the case. But it is normal in this kind of match, in the best club competition, to adapt to the opponent. We saw in the matches against Bayern Munich, and against Arsenal when we played them, that they know how to keep the ball. You have to know how to defend and adapt. I think we have improved our performance in this kind of match and we are happy to have reached the final.

Luis Enrique: “I’m much calmer. Joaquin is responsible for that.”

How would you describe your assistant Rafael Pol, and what does psychologist Joaquin Valdes bring?

It would take a lot, a lot to give a sincere definition. Rafael Pol is brilliant. I have known him for a long time, he started with me as a fitness coach. We have developed our vision of football over many years. He is my right-hand man, in many aspects and in life.

Joaquin Valdes is the only one who has been with me since day one. He is, however, from Girona’s rival city, 28 kilometers away. But that defines our ability to be together. He is a very important person for me, for my development as a coach. My personality as a player is different from my personality as a coach during matches. I’m much calmer. Joaquin is responsible for that.

Luis Enrique: “We must not forget that a player has to defend, a team has to defend.”

Do Dembélé’s efforts set an example? Do they make other things possible?

That is Ousmane’s mentality. I think you have to show players his way of defending. He always defends, no matter the minute or the match. We often highlight forwards’ goals or assists, but much less their work as defenders.

But we must not forget that a player has to defend, a team has to defend. It is not a bad thing, it has to be done. Otherwise, it is impossible to win. Dembélé constantly shows his incredible quality on the ball, but also his ability to perform without the ball.

Luis Enrique: “It’s a good moment for the club and we want to continue on this path.”

A second final that confirms your relationship with Luis Campos and Nasser Al-Khelaïfi?

We are very… how do you say it? I don’t even remember in Spanish anymore (laughs). Very lucky! Playing another final after making history... I spoke about it with Rafael Pol before the semifinal against Bayern, it is a great opportunity to be here again. I have the full support of the sporting director and the president, which is very difficult in professional football. Every time we have lost, we have had their support. That is the key.

After that, there are many things. The most important is the quality of the players. Their human quality too, which is very important for us. When we want to sign a player, we want information about his ability to adapt, to do what we want. We are happy, it is a good moment for the club and we want to continue on this path.

Luis Enrique: “Without the ball, they are the best team in the world”

Arsenal becoming champions of England last night, does that change anything for the final?

No one knows, it is impossible to know. They deserve to win the Premier League, they have had a very good year. We have already played against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, we know very well their ability to play with and without the ball. Without the ball, they are the best team in the world, without a doubt. They also know how to score. It is a great combination. It is normal to see them in the final. It will be a very difficult final, with teams that got there by different paths. It will be a great final.

Luis Enrique: “Both teams want to control the game. It’s very difficult to take the ball away from Arsenal.”

A nightmare on set pieces?

No (smiles). We have a small team, but one that knows how to defend. There are similar styles, even if they are different. Both teams want to control the game. It’s very difficult to take the ball away from Arsenal. His team reflects his desire to win very well. It will be a great final.

Only one goal short of equaling the Champions League record, the 45 scored by your Barça as a player in 1999/2000?

Ah yes! I don’t think too much about the past, I look at the future. I want to do better. Those are figures that show the level we have. It is the same if you analyze Arsenal’s stats. The level is very high. We are happy, we want to score goals and win. We know it will be difficult. In the end, there will be one sad team and happy people on the other side. We hope to be the happy ones.

Luis Enrique: “The future of football is moving in that direction, with less control in order to surprise opponents.”

Do you feel you control every situation in the game?

I spoke about that goal two years ago, but every year I control less (smiles). Things are changing all the time. I control the important things. But there are many unimportant things that I do not control. You have to change all the time, otherwise it becomes very easy to be controlled. The future of football is moving in that direction, with less control in order to surprise opponents.

Any special motivation to win a second time in a row, like Zidane? A motivation to have this PSG remembered like the great teams of other eras?

I think football has given me much more than I give back to it. I have never tried to be among the best coaches. I want to be competitive, to become a better coach, to give a better team talk. It is always different, I am older and the players are younger. They are younger than my son! Every year, you have to change things. That unpredictability is something I like. I want to be competitive all the time.

Luis Enrique: “We are going to train on small details to attack and defend better.”

Do you encourage the players to keep a normal life? How do you handle the time ahead?

We do things differently from others. We want the things the players need. Rest is very important to me, especially in the final part of the season. You have to be able to choose where you are. It is important to have those moments. I want the players to be happy and feel lucky to come to the Campus, for us to be a small family. Especially over these next two weeks.

The preparation is a little different from last year, because we had the French Cup final. We are going to play a small friendly match. We are going to do tactical training sessions, because we have the time, which is unusual. We are going to work on small details to attack and defend better, if Arsenal let us do it. We want to enjoy a Champions League final atmosphere in Budapest.

Luis Enrique: “Show everyone just how fantastic football is.”

An all-Spanish duel on the bench: what are Arteta and Arsenal’s strengths? How can he make things difficult for you?

If you look at Arsenal’s statistics, that is Arteta’s doing. He is a leader, he has brought that mentality to Arsenal, a winning mentality. They have been improving their level for several years. They are very good on the ball, they know how to play.

We have not always had possession against them. Without the ball, they are the best team in Europe. You can see it in the numbers. They won the Premier League. Last year, they were not in the Champions League final because we beat them. But they deserve credit. Arteta learned very well from Guardiola at City. He transmits competitiveness and a style of play. He always gives energy to his team.

It has always been difficult to play against them. We always want to keep the ball, but it was very hard. They are comfortable in a low block or with a high press. It will be an exciting final. At Arsenal’s last final, I was there as a Barça supporter in Paris. It will be a very difficult match.

Our supporters are fantastic every day, so just imagine them in a final. We hope to enjoy it and show a very high level of performance to show everyone just how fantastic football is. We have time to prepare for the match, to control what we can control.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.