Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique described his team’s second victory in the UEFA Champions League as «even bigger» than their first European title a year ago, after the French club defeated Arsenal on penalties in a thrilling final on Saturday.
«It’s even bigger because we knew how difficult it is to play against Arsenal, and for us as a team and a city to win it is incredible,» the Spaniard told the broadcaster. Channel Plus amid on-field celebrations at Budapest’s Puskas Arena.
PSG won 4–3 on penalties after recovering from an early goal to draw 1–1 after 90 minutes and extra time.
Kai Havertz fired English Premier League champions Arsenal into a six-minute lead in the Hungarian capital, but PSG got a deserved equalizer when Ousmane Dembele converted a 65th-minute penalty after a foul on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Kvaratskhelia later had a shot hit the post as Arsenal held on for extra time and then penalties.
Nuno Mendes was the only Parisian player of the five to fail to score in the shoot-out, while Eberechi Eze had already missed for Arsenal before Gabriel fired over with their final effort.
«I think we deserved it over the course of the season, even though the final was very exciting,» added Luis Enrique, as PSG became the first team since Real Madrid between 2016 and 2018 to retain the Champions League trophy.
Luis Enrique previously led Barcelona to the title in 2015 and becomes only the fifth manager to win three European Cups, after Carlo Ancelotti, Bob Paisley, Zinedine Zidane and Pep Guardiola.
The Qatar-backed team won European club football’s biggest prize for the first time in its history last year with a 5-0 defeat to Inter Milan in Munich.
«This time it’s a different emotion. It’s incredible that we did it back to back,» said captain Marquinhos, who has been with PSG since 2013.
Five trophies
«We showed how much we wanted it. The coach said right at the start of the season that it is difficult to win, but even more difficult to win twice.»
“That was the goal for us and that was the mentality we showed today.”
In the first Champions League final in a decade where penalties were taken, a team won after conceding the first goal for the first time since 2014.
«It’s exceptional, it’s a great night. We’ve worked hard this season to do the back-to-back. It’s beautiful. We’re so happy and we’ll enjoy this tonight,» said Dembélé, the Ballon d’Or holder whose strike that night sees him end the season with a total of 20 goals.
«It was difficult. But the whole season has been difficult. We had to deal with a lot of things, but in the end we won another Champions League and we are all excited,» the forward added.
He will now link up with the France squad for the World Cup in North America and says the fitness problem that forced him out at the end of normal playing time was just a cramp.
PSG had already won the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the French Champions Trophy on penalties this season.
It ends the campaign with a total of five trophies, having also won the French Ligue 1 title.
Saturday’s victory means that next season will start on August 12 with Europa League winners Aston Villa playing in the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg, Austria.
Published on May 31, 2026
