Paris Saint-Germain are set to visit Arsenal for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals at the Emirates Stadium, in what’s expected to be one of the biggest matches of the 2024–25 season. Fighting for a place in the final, PSG coach Luis Enrique has issued a strong warning to the Gunners.
PSG and Arsenal already met earlier this season in the Champions League, facing off on Matchday 2 of the league phase on October 1. On that occasion, the Gunners claimed a 2-0 win at home, with goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka. However, Luis Enrique made it clear he expects things to be different on Tuesday.
In his press conference ahead of the semifinal, the Spanish coach pointed out how much PSG have grown since that loss: “We played on October 1, about seven or eight months ago. There are big differences now. I’ve watched that match and seen how much we’ve evolved — we’re a better team and we’ve shown it throughout the competition.”
Although PSG suffered their first Ligue 1 loss of the season over the weekend, Luis Enrique addressed the critics who have downplayed the team’s achievements this year: “You can throw negative stats at me — I’ve got positive ones to give right back. The mood in the squad is exceptional. I’m the saddest person on the team — so imagine how my players are feeling,” the coach said with a laugh.
Luis Enrique also praised Arsenal, highlighting that “they have high-level individual talent, but they don’t depend on a single player.” Having already eliminated Liverpool and clinched the Ligue 1 title, PSG enter the semifinals full of confidence under Luis Enrique’s leadership.
PSG and the Champions League dream
Since Nasser Al-Khelaifi took over the club, PSG’s main objective has been winning the Champions League — a goal that has remained elusive. Their closest run came in the 2019–20 season, when they reached the final before falling to Bayern Munich. Last season, in Luis Enrique’s debut campaign, PSG advanced to the semifinals but were eliminated by Borussia Dortmund.
This time, Luis Enrique is determined to take the final step: “We’re in a similar situation to last season and we want to take another step forward. We’ve shown a high level — the whole team has. It’s a tough and demanding objective, but we’re managing it well. We want to make history, to do something no one has done before. It’s a beautiful kind of pressure, and I hope it doesn’t affect us.”
Luis Enrique has already made history by becoming the first PSG coach to reach the Champions League semifinals in back-to-back seasons. After a strong run in Europe this year and consistent performances across competitions, he believes this could be the season PSG finally claim their long-awaited European crown.