PSG Clinch UEFA Champions League Final Spot, Luis Enrique Aims for History After Dominating Arsenal

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique says his side are “ready to make history” after the French champions booked their place in the Uefa Champions League final with a 3-1 aggregate victory over Arsenal on Wednesday night.

PSG claimed a 2-1 win in the second leg at Parc des Princes thanks to goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi, setting up a showdown with Inter Milan in the final in Munich on May 31. Bukayo Saka pulled one back for the visitors, while Vitinha missed a penalty that could have put the tie beyond doubt earlier.

Arsenal had chances to force a dramatic turnaround, with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma producing a string of vital saves to preserve his side’s advantage.

“It is the match in which we suffered the most [in the Champions League],” said Luis Enrique. “But we deserve to get to the final. Over the two legs we scored more goals than them, and in football that’s what counts. Arsenal played a great game, and we suffered a lot, but we showed our strength.”

It marks PSG’s Their second time appearing in a Champions League final and their first since they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich in Lisbon back in 2020. Despite significant financial backing from their Qatari owners over many years, the club has yet to achieve major success in Europe.

Now, under the stewardship of the former Barcelona and Spain boss, they stand one win away from lifting club football’s most coveted prize for the first time.

There’s no rationale in football, yet from my initial day here, I stated that our aim should be working toward making history," noted Luis Enrique, who will turn 55 on Thursday. "Our objective remains—to become the inaugural team to secure this long-coveted prize for PSG.

The journey to reach the finals hasn’t been easy at all. This season, in the modified Champions League group stage, PSG suffered defeats in three out of their initial five fixtures, with a notable loss being the 2-0 setback against Arsenal. Ultimately, they secured the 15th spot among 36 participating clubs, accumulating eight points fewer than the top team, Liverpool.

But since reaching the knockout rounds, the French giants have grown in stature, eliminating Liverpool and Aston Villa in successive rounds before dispatching Arsenal in the semi-finals.

Luis Enrique defended his team’s early struggles, insisting their poor results masked a higher level of performance.

There’s no question that we merited at least nine additional points during the group stage," he stated. "Having faced such challenging matches certainly aided our squad in developing and strengthening. Statistical data indicated that we ranked among the top teams across Europe, and as soon as we sharpened our finishing skills, it proved that we have what it takes to reach the finale.

Even though they lost, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta felt that his team had played more effectively over the two matches.

“We were the better team over the tie,” Arteta told reporters post-match. “But you have to take your chances and they did. Credit to PSG.”

For PSG, it is a chance to deliver on the promise that has long accompanied their lofty ambitions. For Luis Enrique, it is the opportunity to cement his legacy as the man who finally led the Parisians to European glory.

Inter Milan , yet they stand as obstacles – and history waits.