Luis Enrique discussed Paris Saint-Germain’s ambitions in an interview with PSG TV. The coach spoke about the Champions League, upcoming matches against Manchester City and Barcelona, as well as the challenges of Ligue 1 and his desire to keep winning.
Luis Enrique: “We aren’t the clear favorites”
And this season in particular—are there any records you’re aiming to chase or break? I’m thinking, for instance, of the European top eight—why not? Is that part of your motivation for the new season?
It’s certainly a bit curious, because in the first year, no one thought we could win the Champions League. The second year—at the start of the season—no one did either. People said it was impossible to win a second Champions League, and then came the back-to-back wins.
Today, if you ask any Parisian—whether they like football or not—which team will win the Champions League, they’ll tell you Paris Saint-Germain! It’s incredible! But you have to understand that just because everyone says it, that doesn’t mean it will happen.
Luis Enrique: “No, no, there are many teams—six, seven, or eight teams—that could win this Champions League.”
No, no, there are many teams—six, seven, or eight teams—that could win this Champions League. We’re in the mix, but it will be difficult, and we aren’t the clear favorites.
That’s the kind of balance I’m trying to strike, because there is so much information, expectation, and commentary—both positive and negative—surrounding our club.
- Manchester City and Barcelona: the next challenges
Speaking of which—and sticking with the Champions League—I’m thinking about the two upcoming fixtures: two massive clubs, Manchester City and Barcelona. But I know you—these are the kinds of challenges you particularly enjoy, aren’t they?
Absolutely. Indeed, when playing matches like this, all the players and coaches are more motivated than the opposition because we have the chance to match a record held by Real Madrid. That provides a special kind of motivation.
We’re set to play Manchester City away and Barcelona at home—two teams that love winning the Champions League, have won it in the past, and are among the favorites.
Luis Enrique: “It’s never been easy”
This season in Ligue 1 shows that no two seasons are alike because the competition is so fierce. We also talked about the desire to climb higher up the table; that’s a source of motivation, too.
No matter the circumstances. For me, it’s never been easy. Not a single year. We’ve won Ligue 1 for the last three years, but it hasn’t been easy.
That’s something I hear a lot. Whenever I speak to a coach or a player coming to Ligue 1, they say: “I kept hearing it was easy, but it’s anything but easy.” The physical and technical level of players in Ligue 1 is improving, and it’s always a challenge.
I can’t recall any easy away games—maybe one or two in the first three years. The rest were a struggle, and I think it’s important for it to be that way so we can keep improving.
Luis Enrique: “We’ve gone back-to-back, but now isn’t the time to stop”
You often say you want to make history, but what does that mean to you? Because it goes beyond trophies or winning finals—it goes deeper than that.
That was the primary goal when I arrived here: to make history. Everyone knew the club had already won major trophies, but for us, there is no trophy more important than the Champions League. We’ve gone back-to-back, but now isn’t the time to stop. For me, as a coach, and for all the players—because when you’re a top-level player, that’s a key trait you possess: the desire to win all the time. I want to win the padel match against Joaquín Valdés tonight, win the training session tomorrow, and beat Le Mans tomorrow. The goal is always the same: to win and keep winning.
I’m not worried about exactly how many matches we’ll win. We want to win major trophies, but we realize we won’t win every single time. There’s a time for everything, and right now, it’s tough to keep winning—but that serves as motivation for us.
Luis Enrique: “I’d like us to be recognized as a respectful, courageous, and ambitious team.”
Do you have the ambition for your Paris Saint-Germain side to become a benchmark in football?
I’d like that to happen, especially because it would show that we’re a team that plays with aggression—but not the kind that involves kicking opponents or racking up yellow and red cards.
I want us to be recognized as a respectful, courageous, and ambitious team, featuring players with great talent and quality. I think it’s important to show children that you can play football—enjoying the game while winning (because winning is what matters most at this level)—and also ensure that the fans enjoy watching you play.
Over the last two or three years, whenever I’ve heard people with no connection to the club say they appreciate our players, I’ve taken it as a compliment. It’s something very positive that I really value.
