PSG coach Luis Enrique remains cautious ahead of their upcoming clash against Arsenal, who recently knocked out Real Madrid in the quarterfinals.
Seven months ago, PSG experienced a bitter defeat at Arsenal’s ground. That loss led to a difficult period for the French club, nearly knocking them out of the Champions League. Now, they face the same team, but this time the stakes are higher with a chance to reach the final. Despite the challenges, Enrique is full of confidence.
On Tuesday, PSG will face Arsenal in the first leg of the semifinals. At a press conference the day before, Enrique stated firmly that his team is now “stronger and more complete” than before.
In the group stage of this season’s Champions League, PSG suffered their first loss to Arsenal on October 1, with goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka securing a 2-0 victory for the Gunners. After that loss, PSG struggled, with one draw and two more defeats. However, the team bounced back brilliantly, winning the last three group-stage matches and then defeating Brest in the knockout stage. They later overcame two English clubs, Liverpool and Aston Villa, to reach the semifinals.
Now, PSG is dreaming of another victory against an English team, and as expected, the October defeat to Arsenal is often mentioned. Enrique’s confident tone shows just how much his team has improved.
“That was seven or eight months ago. I’ve watched that match again, and compared to then, we are a much better team now,” Enrique said.
“During the group stage, we faced tough challenges, many matches felt like finals. I think those experiences made things difficult, but at the same time, they made us stronger. Now, we are a more mature team.”
“This is the Champions League semifinals—two teams with the same goal, playing two matches. Handling the pressure on the field will make the difference.”
PSG has been in excellent form domestically, already securing their fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title and reaching the French Cup final. In contrast, Arsenal’s domestic performance has been less impressive, with just one win in their last four Premier League matches and a recent draw.
However, Arsenal is a different beast in the Champions League. In the quarterfinals, Mikel Arteta’s side knocked out the record European champions, Real Madrid, winning 5-1 on aggregate.
Despite his team’s confidence, Enrique is fully aware of Arsenal’s strength.
“They are one of the strongest teams in Europe, and under an excellent coach, they’ve been performing brilliantly for years,” Enrique said.
“We both deserve to be here, but I prefer my team, that’s why I’m here. Some people will back Paris, others will back Arsenal. That’s part of life.”
Neither of these two teams has ever tasted Champions League glory. As they move toward fulfilling their dreams, they will meet on Tuesday at 1 AM Bangladesh time for the first step in their quest.
