\n<\/p>\n
Head coach Luis Enrique follows in the footsteps of Bob Paisley, Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane in becoming just the fifth manager to win three Champions League\/European Cup titles.<\/p>\n
The Spaniard, who was unveiled as PSG boss in July 2023, also won the Champions League as a player with Barcelona in 2014-15.<\/p>\n
Remarkably, “he didn’t want to take the job when he was first asked”, journalist Guillem Balague told BBC Radio 5 Live. <\/p>\n
“(He said) ‘you are full of stars – I’m not interested’. He was promised (he could) change the culture and the question was different. It wasn’t how can we win the Champions League, it was what kind of football do we want? <\/p>\n
“The answer was offensive, attractive and Luis Enrique represented that and he was convinced he could do that.”<\/p>\n
Under Luis Enrique, PSG lost their record goalscorer and five-time Ligue 1 player of the year Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2024.<\/p>\n
But, arguably, the France forward’s departure has helped balance the team.<\/p>\n
PSG scored 44 more goals across all competitions in their first season without Mbappe (2024-25) compared with his final season at the club.<\/p>\n
“Everyone plays like a team,” says Balague of the current squad. <\/p>\n
“PSG is the team with the fewest yellow cards in Europe’s top leagues. That is a reflection of emotional control and everyone playing for everybody instead of being angry. <\/p>\n
“He (Luis Enrique) said before when Mbappe left he prefers five players scoring 10 goals than one scoring 50. This season PSG have 20 different goalscorers. It is a collective approach.”<\/p>\n
They also equalled the record for most goals scored in a single edition of the European Cup\/Champions League, with their 45 drawing level with Barcelona’s total in 1999-2000.<\/p>\n
Luis Enrique has also created a brilliant relationship with PSG’s fans.<\/p>\n
After their Champions League win last year, they unveiled a flag in tribute to their coach and daughter Xana – who died aged nine in 2019 – showing the pair planting a Barcelona flag in the centre circle after the 2015 European triumph over Juventus in Berlin.<\/p>\n
And in Budapest, before their win over Arsenal, a giant banner showing Luis Enrique lifting the famous trophy was displayed among the French faithful.<\/p>\n
He was cheered on by the PSG fans passionately as he was lifted into the air by his players while hold the Champions League trophy.<\/p>\n
After collecting his medal he danced in front of them with president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, celebrating the trophy that for so long had eluded the club. Not once, but twice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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