BUDAPEST - Paris St Germain’s back-to-back Champions League victories are built on talent, depth, and tactical sophistication, but insiders point to something less tangible: belief.
Luis Enrique arrived in Paris in 2023 demanding a cultural shift. His mantra: collective sacrifice over individual status. Two Champions League titles later, players describe him as an architect and people leader, not just a coach.
“It’s not easy to do it back-to-back, but we did,” defender Achraf Hakimi said after PSG beat Arsenal 4-3 on penalties in Saturday’s final following a 1-1 draw after extra time. “The coach is the big voice of the club. We follow him, we trust him.”
That ethos has defined PSG’s modern era. The club previously assembled stars, often collapsing under pressure. Luis Enrique built a side around intensity, resilience, and blind trust in the collective. The spectacle became secondary to structure.
Luis Enrique brushes off talk of legacy. “Legend? I’m not interested in that,” he said. Yet players credit him for uniting a squad through injuries and a draining campaign.
Midfielder Vitinha said the season started with little rest after a Club World Cup final loss to Chelsea. “There were a lot of ups and downs ... but we managed to improve and win.”
Luis Enrique has empowered squad players regardless of reputation. After the final, he praised Warren Zaire-Emery, who only played extra time. “We were very unfair to Warren as coaches. He deserved to play the final. But he showed he was someone special.”
The departures of superstar forwards no longer destabilize the club. “We know the path we want to follow,” said Luis Enrique. “We are working for the future but we are not in a hurry.”
Captain Marquinhos said: “We have a coach who will push us to go for the third.” Vitinha, smiling, called Luis Enrique “the culprit” behind the squad’s endless hunger for more trophies.