Luis Enrique has praised Mikel Arteta for his remarkable work at Arsenal, acknowledging that his Paris Saint-Germain side will face a formidable challenge in the Champions League final. The French champions secured their spot in the showpiece event after overcoming Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, joining Premier League leaders Arsenal, who eliminated Atletico Madrid.
PSG's Path to the Final
PSG advanced to the final following a thrilling 5-4 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich. After a high-scoring first leg, PSG held Bayern to a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena, with Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele scoring inside five minutes to put the tie beyond reach. Harry Kane's late strike proved to be a mere consolation for the German side.
This marks PSG's second consecutive Champions League final appearance, having beaten Arsenal en route to winning the trophy last season. Enrique expects another tough encounter against the likely Premier League champions.
Enrique's Praise for Arteta
Speaking after the semi-final triumph, Enrique expressed his admiration for Arteta, his former teammate from their youth days: 'I appreciate Mikelito Arteta! We used to be teammates when we were kids, he did a great job at Arsenal. It will be a difficult, hard game, but we believe in our football style.'
Reflecting on his team's performance in Munich, Enrique added: 'Good memories. We could leave the match with a lot of intensity. The defence were better than the attack. The character we showed against a team like Bayern is so positive. We're so happy to reach a second Champions League final in a row.'
'It was very intense. Very difficult. They play football at the highest level. Both teams are similar, we love to press high. We are very happy. In two days I'm going to celebrate my birthday. I'm very happy. We're in the next phase of the competition, the final of the Champions League. We want to give our supporters that kind of gift.'
Kvaratskhelia's Thoughts on Arsenal
PSG star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia also shared his thoughts on facing Arsenal, who will be the fifth Premier League team the French giants have faced this season. 'We respect all of the teams,' he said. 'For us, it's important to play our game. We don't really think about who is going to be our opponent, we just prepare our game and give everything on the pitch. It will be difficult – it's the Champions League final – and we just have to go and enjoy it.'
Historic Final for Arsenal
While PSG are bidding to retain their Champions League crown, the May 30 final in Budapest will be Arsenal's first in 20 years. The Gunners, led by Arteta, have impressed throughout the tournament and will be eager to claim Europe's top prize for the first time in their history.
