Luis Enrique Reflects on Barcelona’s Champions League Exit: “They Deserved to Be in the Final”

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) head coach Luis Enrique has expressed his thoughts on FC Barcelona’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League, stating that the Catalan club deserved a place in the final. Barcelona, Enrique’s former team, was ousted by Inter Milan in a dramatic semifinal that saw them score six goals over two legs but still fall short of progression.

In an interview with El Larguero, Enrique remarked, “I also think Barça played well; they scored six goals. If someone tells you you’re going to score six goals in a semifinal and still get eliminated, you wouldn’t believe it.” He continued, “I think Barça showed with their style the kind of football that’s played in Barcelona, and throughout history, I think they’ve always been known for that—we’ve been known for that—and in that sense, I clearly think they could have been in the final and deserved that ending.”

Despite acknowledging Barcelona’s strong performance, Enrique candidly admitted that facing his former club in the final would have been emotionally challenging. “If I’m being honest, playing a Champions League final against Barça would have been the worst. If they had advanced and we had not, I would want them to win the final,” he said.

PSG secured their spot in the final after a 3-1 aggregate victory over Arsenal, with goals from Fabián Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi sealing the win in the second leg. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s crucial saves were instrumental in keeping Arsenal at bay.

Reflecting on the match, Enrique praised Arsenal’s performance but emphasized PSG’s deserved progression. “Over the two legs, we scored more goals than them, and in football, that’s the most important thing,” he stated. “Arsenal played a great game, and we suffered a lot. It is the match in which we suffered the most in the Champions League, but we deserve to get to the final.”

Enrique also addressed the criticism often directed at Ligue 1, humorously responding to the “farmers’ league” label. “The league of farmers, no? We are the league of farmers,” he joked, highlighting PSG’s victories over Premier League teams Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal en route to the final.

Looking ahead, PSG will face Inter Milan in the Champions League final on May 31 in Munich. The match marks PSG’s second appearance in the final, following their loss to Bayern Munich in 2020. Enrique expressed his ambition to make history with the club, stating, “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 for PSG.”

As PSG prepares for the final, Enrique’s reflections on Barcelona’s elimination underscore the deep connections and respect he holds for his former club, even as he leads his current team toward potential European glory.