Luis Enrique Believes Paris Saint-Germain Are More Motivated Than Arsenal
Luis Enrique, the head coach of Paris Saint-Germain, has expressed his belief that his team is more motivated than Arsenal in their quest to win the Champions League. He highlighted that PSG are driven by the desire to defend their title, which gives them an edge over the Gunners who are aiming for their first European Cup.
The defending champions are entering the final in Budapest with a strong sense of confidence, having previously defeated Arsenal in the semi-finals last season. If they succeed this time, PSG will become only the second club in modern history to retain the Champions League title.
When asked about Arsenal’s pursuit of their first European Cup, Enrique remarked: “Yes, that’s powerful, but you know how powerful it is to try and win the second one in a row? It’s bigger. So we’re ahead.”
Praise for Mikel Arteta
Enrique also extended his admiration for Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta. He said: “No, I am not surprised, especially with what he has done this year. They are absolutely worthy of winning the Premier League.”
He continued: “They were the best team and the most consistent. It was not always easy with Manchester City on their tails, but they deserve the title. Arteta has been there for six-and-a-half years, so he knows the team and he knows them inside out.”
Ousmane Dembele’s Return
Ousmane Dembele, the Ballon d’Or winner, has confirmed that he is fully prepared for the final after recovering from a calf injury. The French forward suffered a strain during a Ligue 1 match against Paris FC on May 17, which initially cast doubt on his participation in the final. However, he has since made a full recovery.
“I wasn’t scared about missing the final,” Dembele said. “I stopped when I felt the niggle, and I had 10-15 days to get ready for the final. I am 100 per cent ready and raring to go.”
Arsenal’s Strong Performance
Dembele also acknowledged the progress of Arsenal, stating: “Arsenal are an excellent team — we’ve seen them run away with the Premier League title, but also what they showed us in the league phase. Their journey has been great, they deserve to be in the final.”
He added: “They play great football, and are great across the board. Set-pieces, everyone knows that. They have got an exceptional coach.”
