Luis Enrique: PSG Much Improved for Arsenal Rematch

Luis Enrique believes PSG have improved significantly since their group stage loss to Arsenal. Get the latest Champions League news.

PSG manager Luis Enrique believes his team will be a more formidable opponent when they face Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final. This comes after Arsenal's 2-0 win over PSG in a group stage match, where goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka dominated the French side.

Enrique acknowledged the previous loss but emphasized that PSG have since improved significantly. The upcoming semi-final first leg promises to be a tougher test for Arsenal as PSG looks to bounce back.

PSG secured their fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title and reached the French Cup final, while also advancing to the Champions League semifinals after eliminating Liverpool and Aston Villa. Reflecting on their loss to Arsenal in October, Luis Enrique stated, “That was seven or eight months ago. I saw the match again. We're a much better team today.”

The manager attributed PSG's growth to the challenging group phase, saying, “We had a very intense group phase, with a lot of games that could have been finals. So I think that made things difficult because we were in a difficult position, but it has made us much stronger and we are more complete.”

🎙️ Luis Enrique: "Our goal is to write a page in history and that includes this matchup against Arsenal."#ARSPSG | #UCL pic.twitter.com/nSpBb8Csux

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) April 28, 2025

Luis Enrique emphasized the nature of the Champions League semi-finals, stating, “These are Champions League semi-finals, but they're still two games between two teams with the same goal. The key will be managing the pressure.”

The stakes are high as Arsenal, fresh from a 5-1 aggregate win over Real Madrid, look to capitalize on their home form, remaining unbeaten in the Champions League this season.

Luis Enrique praised Arsenal, saying, “They're one of the best teams in Europe and they've been doing a remarkable job with their coach for several years now.” He added, “We all deserve to be here. I like my team the most, that's why I'm here. Some people will like Paris more, others Arsenal, that's part of life.”

Both teams are chasing their first Champions League title. Luis Enrique stated, “The objective is difficult to achieve. That doesn't mean we're under any pressure, we're ambitious.” He emphasized the team's confidence, noting, “When we say we want to make history, we're talking about doing something that nobody has done before us. The team has a lot of confidence, and sometimes we're less brilliant, but that's part of life.”

“PSG have never won the Champions League? Neither have Arsenal. We mustn't let that stop us from performing at the highest level, we have to keep that in mind but concentrate on what we have to do.”

👋🏟️ Arsenal Stadium#ARSPSG | #UCL pic.twitter.com/so6AYQCyhj

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) April 28, 2025