Luis Enrique confident ahead of the Champions League final but warns: “No team in Europe has a worse schedule than us...”

Luis Enrique faced the media on the eve of his second straight Champions League final with Paris Saint‑Germain — and the Spanish coach made it clear he believes his team can lift the trophy again. After winning the Champions League with Barcelona in 2015 and with PSG last year, he’s chasing a third title.

Confidence

Our confidence comes from two things: we’re the defending champions, and we’ve survived one of the toughest schedules any European team has faced in the last two years. It exposed us, it cost us games, but it also made us stronger. I hope tomorrow is a great celebration of soccer, and that the team who performs best on the field takes the title.

Hakimi and Nuno Mendes

Both are in good shape and will be available tomorrow.

Motivation

There’s no greater motivation than playing a Champions League final. Everything else is just noise. Tomorrow we’ll see who’s better and who earns the right to lift the trophy.

Are PSG the favorite?

In a final, it’s almost impossible to talk about favorites. Last year’s match was completely unpredictable — that’s football. I don’t think either team is above the other. The key will be in the small details and managing the tension that comes with a game like this.

Pressure and expectations

At a club like this, everything gets magnified. A few losses and it feels like a crisis; when you win regularly, people take it for granted. That’s the level of expectation around PSG. What matters is that in recent seasons we’ve shown a clear identity and real consistency.

Preparation

We’ve managed workloads carefully and given players rest at the end of sessions. We’ve also had time to study the opponent — a team we know well. There’s still room to improve in attack and defense. In a Champions League final, you never know when you’ll get another chance, so you have to give your absolute best.

The road to the final

If I had to pick one moment, I’d choose the 5–4. The second leg ended in a draw, but honestly, that was the tie I enjoyed the most in the entire Champions League. Against Chelsea, Monaco, and Liverpool we also showed our level. Reaching a second straight final is incredibly special and hugely valuable for us.

Arsenal

For me, Arsenal have been the standout team in the Premier League this season. They’ve done more than enough to deserve the title.

Clash of styles

More than opposite styles, I think we’re two teams with similar ideas — we just reach them in different ways. They shine through their attacking power, and we stand out for our defensive solidity.

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