Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has boldly declared that no team in Europe is superior to his side as the French champions gear up for a blockbuster UEFA Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.
Speaking on Monday ahead of the first leg at the Parc des Princes, the Spanish tactician described the clash as a meeting between Europe’s top two teams, while also acknowledging Arsenal’s impressive campaign.
> “These are the two best teams in Europe, even if Arsenal have also had a great season,” Luis Enrique said.
While admitting that Bayern may hold a slight edge in consistency, the PSG boss insisted his side have proven their quality on the continental stage.
> “In terms of consistency, maybe Bayern are a little bit above us. But we have shown that no team is better than us,” he added.
PSG have now reached the Champions League semi-finals for the third consecutive season under Luis Enrique, who took charge in 2023. The Parisian club are chasing back-to-back European titles after lifting the trophy for the first time in their history last season.
Their route to the last four has been impressive, with victories over Chelsea and Liverpool in the knockout rounds.
Luis Enrique expressed satisfaction with his team’s progress but emphasized that their ambitions remain high.
> “It is a real pleasure and it is deserved. You need to be ambitious to get to this stage and I think we are. We still want to go that bit further,” he said.
Recent meetings between the two European heavyweights have been evenly contested. Bayern claimed a 1-0 win at home during the league phase in November 2024, while PSG responded with a 2-0 victory in the Club World Cup quarter-final last July in the United States. However, Bayern once again edged the Parisians with a 2-1 win in Paris in November.
PSG have also received a timely boost ahead of the semi-final, with Portuguese midfielder Vitinha returning to training on Monday after missing the last two matches through injury.
Luis Enrique confirmed that the squad is fully fit, with Fabian Ruiz also back in action after making his first start in three months during PSG’s 3-0 Ligue 1 win over Angers last weekend.
> “Everyone is ready,” the PSG coach confirmed.
With confidence high and key players returning, PSG head into Tuesday’s showdown determined to prove they remain Europe’s team to beat.