Paris Saint-Germain beat Arsenal 0-1 (video highlights Arsenal/PSG) on Tuesday at Emirates Stadium in the first leg of the Champions League 2024-2025 semi-finals (return on May 7). After the victory, Paris coach Luis Enrique spoke at a press conference.
Enrique “The final result is positive for us.”
Do you have any news about Ousmane Dembélé?
No, I don’t know anything. We need more time and analysis. The medical tests will take place tomorrow. It’s nothing serious, it’s pretty light, but there are doubts about the return match.
Are you proud of your team’s performance? And do you have any regrets?
The match had different facets. We started the game in an incredible atmosphere, with deafening noise. We got off to a fantastic start, scoring our first goal very quickly. That gave us a lot of confidence and we were able to keep control during the first half.
But in the second half, Arsenal dominated us, creating a lot of chances and winning a lot of corners and set-pieces. The end result was positive for us. It could have been worse, it could have been better. We’re looking forward to the second leg now.
Enrique “I saw a very solid and united team without the ball, who defended without fear or doubt.”
Do you think your collective strength helped you tonight?
The feeling is that we have no limits as a team. We can win, we can lose, but we’re competitive in every stadium and we’re always looking to improve. Every player has put in a huge amount of work offensively and defensively.
We can’t play in a stadium like Arsenal’s and wonder how much effort we have to put in. You just have to give it your all, with and without the ball. And that’s what the players did. I saw a very solid and united team without the ball, defending without fear or doubt.
Enrique “We have to win the game at home, they have nothing left to lose”.
Do you think the hardest part was done tonight?
The first objective of the first game has been achieved. The result could have been better, it could have been worse, but it is what it is and we can’t change it. And the second objective now is to win the second leg.
Arsenal still have every hope of qualifying, because a goal can be scored in a second and that can wipe out the first leg. We have to win the game at home, because they’ve got nothing left to lose. It will be a great return match for soccer fans, but a great moment of suffering for the coaches.
Enrique: “I had an incredible defensive line, an incredible midfield and an incredible attack”.
Do you think the second leg against Aston Villa changed your approach to this semi-final?
“In that game, we could have finished 3-3, there were those fifteen minutes of uncertainty, but for the rest of the game I was very satisfied with my team’s performance. But in the second leg, I saw things that I also saw tonight.
We’re a team that always tries to play good soccer. Because that’s the best way to win games with the quality of players we have. This result is a great joy, but it’s only just begun and each team will have its chance in the return leg.”
Can you comment on Gianluigi Donnarumma’s performance?
“I’d like to highlight the work of the players and the newcomers. Some shone brighter than others, and our goalkeeper was invaluable against a team so strong on set-pieces.
But I had an incredible defensive line, an incredible midfield and an incredible attack that made this great result possible.”
