Faith in Luis Enrique leads PSG to back-to-back Champions League titles

Paris Saint-Germain's back-to-back Champions League victories are attributed not just to talent and tactics, but to a profound sense of belief cultivated by coach Luis Enrique. Since his arrival in 2023, Enrique has prioritized a cultural shift, emphasizing collective sacrifice and ensuring individual stars defend, press, and suffer together.

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It’s not easy to do it back-to-back, but we did. The coach is the big voice of the club. We follow him, we trust him. Since day one he told us the team is more important than the player. We have created not just a team but a family.

This approach has transformed PSG from a collection of stars into a cohesive unit, overcoming years of Champions League failures often linked to psychological collapses. Players describe Enrique as an architect and people leader who built a family, not just a team. "The coach is the big voice of the club. We follow him, we trust him," said defender Achraf Hakimi after the final penalty shootout win against Arsenal. "Since day one he told us the team is more important than the player."

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Legend? I’m not interested in that.

Despite a demanding season marked by injuries and fatigue, the squad remained united. "There were a lot of ups and downs," noted Portugal midfielder Vitinha. "We knew when the season started after little rest and little preparation that there would be physical problems and injuries, but we were bracing for it." He credited Luis Enrique with keeping the group together and praised the staff for managing the squad effectively, allowing the team to win even with key players absent.

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There were a lot of ups and downs. We knew when the season started after little rest and little preparation that there would be physical problems and injuries, but we were bracing for it.

Enrique consistently empowers all squad members, refusing to create hierarchies based on reputation alone. He even singled out young midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery for praise after the final, despite the player only appearing in extra time. The coach himself, however, remains indifferent to legacy, stating, "Legend? I’m not interested in that." Yet, his players increasingly see him as the driving force behind PSG's sustained dominance.

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We played several games without key players but even then we managed to improve and win. What the team have been doing, but also those who’ve had fewer minutes, they deserve a lot.