Luis Enrique Says PSG Deserves Champions League Final Spot After Victory Over Arsenal

‎Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique emphasized that his team earned their spot in the Champions League final and is determined to secure the trophy after defeating Arsenal in the semi-final on Wednesday.

‎”Over the two legs, we scored more goals than them, and in football, it’s the most important thing, but Arsenal played a great game, and we suffered a lot,” the Spaniard said after PSG’s 2-1 win in the second leg in Paris secured a 3-1 aggregate triumph.

‎Goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi around half-time gave the French champions a commanding lead in the tie, with Bukayo Saka netting a consolation for Arsenal.

‎Meanwhile, PSG’s Vitinha missed a penalty after it was saved.

‎However, the hosts needed goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to make several vital saves, and Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta claimed his team had been better over the two legs.

‎”It is the match in which we suffered the most (in the Champions League) but we deserve to get to the final,” added Luis Enrique.

‎PSG will now face Inter Milan in the final in Munich on May 31 after an impressive run in the competition, also knocking out Liverpool and Aston Villa.

‎Their journey to the final is remarkable, especially given their struggles earlier in the season, including losing three of their first five league matches, such as a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal.

‎Despite these challenges, PSG has defied expectations to reach the final and pursue their first Champions League trophy.

‎That meant they came 15th out of 36 teams and finished eight points behind the best team, Liverpool.

‎”I think throughout the competition it is clear that the results are what counts, we know that, but in the league phase there is no doubt we deserved nine points more,” Luis Enrique claimed.

‎”The fact we had such a difficult set of fixtures in the league phase helped the team improve and grow.

‎”The statistics showed we were one of the best teams in Europe, and when we started to be more clinical, in a short competition, I think we have showed that we deserve to be in the final.”

‎It will be PSG’s second Champions League final, five years after they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich in Lisbon.

‎Last year, in Luis Enrique’s first season with the club, they were beaten in the semi-finals by Borussia Dortmund.

‎”There is no logic in football, but the first day I was here I said the objective was to work towards being able to make history, and that is our objective, to be the first to win this so-desired trophy,” added the former Barcelona coach, who turns 55 on Thursday.