Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique has commended Arsenal as “one of the best teams in Europe” following their elimination of Real Madrid from the Champions League this week. Mikel Arteta’s side secured a commanding 3-0 victory in the first leg of their quarter-final, and despite Madrid’s hopes of a dramatic comeback in the second leg, Arsenal sealed a 2-1 win to set up a semi-final clash with PSG.
Although PSG struggled in the group stage, losing to Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich and drawing with PSV, they have progressed to the semi-finals after defeating both Liverpool and Aston Villa in the knockout rounds.
When asked if facing another Premier League side in Arsenal gives PSG an advantage, Enrique responded, “It’s neither an advantage nor a disadvantage. We know who was eliminated by Arsenal, and we’re facing one of the best teams in Europe.” He acknowledged the significant improvement Arsenal has made under Arteta.
PSG’s progress to the semi-finals wasn’t without its challenges, particularly against Aston Villa, who came close to overturning a two-goal deficit in the second leg. However, PSG held on to secure their spot in the last four.
Enrique also spoke about his squad’s performance, noting, “There are things to improve, but I saw a lot of positive signs.” He emphasized that PSG is not taking their semi-final opponents lightly and believes they are among the top four favorites to win the Champions League.
Earlier in April, PSG clinched their fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title, but Enrique faces the challenge of keeping his squad motivated as they balance league and European competition. Despite criticisms over his rotation policy, Enrique stressed his trust in all of his players, noting, “I will always trust all of my players.”