Luis Enrique: PSG's second Champions League title was harder than the first

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique believes successfully defending their Champions League title in the 2025/2026 season was a more arduous task than securing their first trophy a year prior. He highlighted Arsenal's significantly tougher resistance in the final, making this latest success feel particularly special.

PSG clinched their second European crown by defeating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties in the Champions League final at Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary. The match ended 1-1 after extra time, necessitating a penalty shootout. PSG demonstrated greater composure during the shootout, with only Nuno Mendes missing his attempt. In contrast, Arsenal saw Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes fail to convert their penalties against the PSG goalkeeper.

This triumph marks a new milestone for PSG in Europe's elite competition. They become the second team in the modern era to successfully defend the Champions League title, following Real Madrid's three consecutive wins from 2016 to 2018. Furthermore, PSG is the first French club ever to win the European Cup or Champions League in two consecutive seasons, solidifying their status as a dominant force in European football.

PSG's success is attributed to Enrique's coaching, having built a solid team following the departure of several superstar players. The Spanish coach led PSG to their inaugural Champions League title last season and has now managed to retain it amidst the pressure of being the defending champions. This latest title further cements Enrique's reputation as one of Europe's most accomplished coaches, bringing his career total to three Champions League trophies, placing him in the company of legendary managers such as Bob Paisley, Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, and Zinedine Zidane.

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It was more difficult than last year because we knew before the match how difficult it would be to play against Arsenal.