From Galacticos to glory: How Luis Enrique transformed PSG into Champions League winners
PSG's head coach Luis Enrique touches the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match against Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
PSG's head coach Luis Enrique and players Vitinha, left, and Ousmane Dembele look at the trophy at the end of the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno
PSG's coach Luis Enrique is thrown into the air by his players as they celebrate winning the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Inter Milan, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)
PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma, Vitinha, Ousmane Dembele and coach Luis Enrique celebrate after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Inter Milan, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Peter Kneffel/dpa via AP)
PSG's head coach Luis Enrique celebrates with the trophy after the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
PSG's head coach Luis Enrique celebrates with the trophy after the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
PSG's head coach Luis Enrique touches the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match against Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
PSG's head coach Luis Enrique and players Vitinha, left, and Ousmane Dembele look at the trophy at the end of the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno
PSG's coach Luis Enrique is thrown into the air by his players as they celebrate winning the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Inter Milan, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)
PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma, Vitinha, Ousmane Dembele and coach Luis Enrique celebrate after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Inter Milan, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Peter Kneffel/dpa via AP)
PSG's head coach Luis Enrique celebrates with the trophy after the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
PARIS (AP) — Luis Enrique got rid of the Galacticos at Paris Saint-Germain and then became one himself.
The Spanish coach, or perhaps he should be called an architect or a visionary, orchestrated a 5-0 destruction of Inter Milan in Saturday's Champions League final.
Advertisement
The match was so clinically one-sided that it resembled a training session against an amateur team, rather than a three-time European Cup winner.
Passing, movement, energy.
Tireless pressing, forwards dropping back to defend, wingers protecting fullbacks.
Was this really PSG?
Yes.
All of these attributes were on display in Munich as Luis Enrique joined an elite list of coaches to win the Champions League with multiple clubs. His other success was with Barcelona in 2015 — a 3-1 win against Juventus — but Saturday was sweeter.
'This is the time for a great party and to make the most of this moment," Luis Enrique said. "I felt this connection with the players and the fans, I think it was a very strong connection throughout the season. '
Advertisement
Before Luis Enrique's arrival at the start of last season, such teamwork and unselfishness were not the hallmarks of PSG.
Far from it.
PSG had become increasingly complacent with star names like Neymar, Thiago Silva, Lionel Messi, Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kylian Mbappé.
All fine players, some even great, yet all came and went without winning Europe's biggest club prize. Consequentially, the impatience of the club's Qatari owners led to a merry-go-round of coaches.
When Luis Enrique took charge he boldly went against what PSG's owners had done since taking charge 14 years ago.
Advertisement
It was no longer about pandering to star power and, even more importantly, it wasn't about who the new coach signed but rather who he sold.
Out went Neymar and midfielder Marco Verratti, who made too many headlines off the field amid regular reports about their lifestyle and a penchant for partying. Then, during the offseason, came the biggest jolt of all as Mbappé — the club's record scorer — joined Real Madrid.
How would PSG cope in the French league, let alone the Champions League, without a player they had overly relied on for so long?
Rather well it turns out, although it took time and courage.
Advertisement
What were the turning points in PSG's season?
On a rainy autumn night in London, Ousmane Dembélé was dropped by Luis Enrique and PSG lost to Arsenal 2-0 in a dismally poor performance.
Luis Enrique made it clear he was looking for dedication in his squad and this was non-negotiable, which is why he dropped Dembélé.
Critics lambasted his decision and doubts continued as PSG struggled in the new-look Champions League, losing to Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich.
As baffling a decision it was to some, it nevertheless showed that Luis Enrique was not going to give in to player power, like so many of his predecessors.
Advertisement
Instead of demanding a transfer or moaning, Dembélé said nothing. A few months later, he was transformed into a prolific scorer and is now a potential Ballon d'Or winner.
The other turning point came on Jan. 22.
PSG faced possible elimination from the Champions League group stage if it lost at home to Manchester City, the 2023 champion. The nightmare scenario saw PSG trailing 2-0, with no Mbappé to bail the team out.
What happened next ultimately defined their season, as the club's young players took the initiative and turned an inevitable-looking defeat into a 4-2 win.
Noticeably, PSG's redesigned attack clicked with four different scorers rather than relying too heavily on one.
Advertisement
The young guns carried on as a resurgent PSG added to its domestic double with the Champions League title for a remarkable treble — which Luis Enrique first achieved with Barcelona 10 years ago.
It was deeply symbolic that PSG's best player against Inter was 19-year-old Désiré Doué, who set up the first goal and then scored twice.
Also, there were four different scorers on the night — just like against City.
The last PSG goal was scored by Senny Mayulu, a 19-year-old talent who grew up in the northeastern Parisian suburb of Le Blanc-Mesnil.
In memory of his daughter
Luis Enrique's daughter, Xana, died six years ago at the age of nine.
Advertisement
When he was asked about his daughter by broadcaster Canal Plus after the match, Luis Enrique pointed to his heart and said: "It's here every day of my life, whether we win or lose.'
PSG fans held up a banner with Xana's name after the match, and Luis Enrique changed his clothing to put on a T-shirt of the foundation he started in her memory.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Brave' Bright missed: England's Bronze
England defender Millie Bright withdrew from the camp because she was "mentally and physically" at her limits (Ben STANSALL) Lucy Bronze admitted her England team-mate Millie Bright will be missed ahead of the women's Nations League clash against Spain on Tuesday, after the defender withdrew from national duty because of burnout. Chelsea captain Bright, 31, withdrew from the England camp last week, saying she was "mentally and physically" at her limit. Advertisement Bright was pivotal to England's Euro 2022 triumph and it is not yet known if she will return for her country's trophy defence in Switzerland this summer. "She's missed definitely in the sense of what she brings, both on and off the pitch," her Chelsea and England colleague Bronze told reporters Monday. "She's one of the leaders in the team, not just because she's the oldest, but just because of her experience, her attributes as a person. "We've all spoke to Millie through the week... we just want to make sure that she's OK, both physically and mentally." Advertisement Bronze and Bright won a domestic treble at Chelsea this season and also reached the Champions League semi-finals. "It's been a long season for everyone, having spent every day with Millie, I know that she's obviously someone who's quite tough and maybe holds a lot in, so I think it's been quite brave for her to come out and speak," added Bronze. "I think just from a friend perspective, I just want for her to be okay, and give her as much time as she needs to feel okay again." England's Euros defence begins on July 5 against France, but first they are aiming to reach the Nations League semi-finals. Advertisement They must beat 2023 World Cup winners Spain to finish top of Group A3 and progress to the final four in October. The match will also offer coach Sarina Wiegman the chance to fine-tune her preparations for the Euros. - 'Harm them' - Spain beat England in the World Cup final but Wiegman's team got a measure of revenge with a 1-0 victory against La Roja at Wembley in February. "Of course we all know what they're capable of, they're very tight on the ball, so we have to be aware of that," said England's Dutch coach. "We have to, out of possession, be really tight and play compact and be very aggressive in moments, but I also think we had the ball too (in February)... Advertisement "We put them under pressure, and that's what we want to do tomorrow too. You can't control everything, so I think it's going to go back and forth. "They might be a little bit more on the ball than us, but we're definitely going to be on the ball too. And we're definitely going to find some moments where we hopefully harm them." Wiegman confirmed everybody in the squad was fit, including Arsenal striker Alessia Russo after a calf problem kept her out of England's 6-0 romp against Portugal on Friday. Chelsea striker Aggie Beever-Jones came in for her and netted a hat-trick. Advertisement "It's really good for Alessia that she's back -- we have a decision to make and that's nice," said Wiegman. Hannah Hampton started in goal against Portugal in the wake of Mary Earps' shock retirement last week. Paris Saint-Germain stopper Earps, 32, was in goal as England won Euro 2022 and on the run to the 2023 World Cup final, but had fallen behind Hampton in the pecking order. "I think I was the first person Mary called to tell," said Bronze. "The news was difficult to take as team-mates because we all love Mary, we all want her to be here, but as a person and as a friend we accept her decision. "We celebrate everything she's done for this team both off and on the pitch." rbs/pi
Forbes
44 minutes ago
- Forbes
Is SMMT Stock A Buy After Its Recent Plunge?
POLAND - 2025/01/09: In this photo illustration, the Summit Therapeutics company logo is seen ... More displayed on a smartphone screen. (Photo Illustration by Piotr Swat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Summit Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SMMT) experienced a significant 30% decrease in its stock on Friday, May 30th, closing at $18. This sudden decline came even though the stock had doubled within the past year, driven by favorable updates regarding its lung cancer medication, ivonescimab. The recent drop was caused by a combination of trial outcomes. On a positive note, ivonescimab, when used alongside chemotherapy, reduced the risk of disease progression or mortality by 48%. Furthermore, the company detected no major differences between Asian and Western patient demographics, which holds great importance for future research. Nevertheless, the trial fell short of achieving the 'statistically significant' criteria for overall survival – which the FDA requires for approval. This understandably caused investors to react strongly. However, upon reflection, these results aren't as negative as the market perceived. In fact, we believe this actually brings Summit closer to obtaining FDA approval for ivonescimab since it demonstrates a reduced risk of disease progression and efficacy outside of Asia. Separately, take a look at – Buy, Sell, or Hold HIMS Stock? It's essential to keep in mind that Summit has yet to launch any commercial products, and ivonescimab has the potential to be a significant revenue generator. For biotech firms without market-ready products, their value hinges on the potential of their pipeline. The company has been depleting its resources, reporting net operating losses of $226 million last year and $610 million the year before. Despite the drop on Friday, we believe Summit remains worth considering. Naturally, there are risks involved. Any negative developments regarding its drug pipeline could severely impact the stock – the reaction on Friday clearly demonstrated its sensitivity to setbacks. The stock also has a history of performing poorly during market declines, evidenced by its staggering 94% drop during the 2022 inflation crisis compared to a 25% decline in the S&P 500, and its 78% decrease during the 2020 COVID-19 market correction versus a 34% drop in the S&P 500. Considering the latest results of ivonescimab, Summit Therapeutics could present a promising turnaround opportunity for investors willing to assess the risks involved. However, with numerous other robust investment choices available at present, careful consideration is necessary to determine if SMMT is the right selection. Keep in mind that there is always a significant risk associated with investing in a single stock, or a small number of stocks. Consider Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio which, consisting of 30 stocks, has a proven track record of significantly outperforming the S&P 500 over the previous four-year period. Why is that? In aggregate, HQ Portfolio stocks offered superior returns with reduced risk compared to the benchmark index; they exhibited less volatility, as indicated by HQ Portfolio performance metrics.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Al-Nassr target Inter star Bastoni in big summer move
Al-Nassr are reportedly preparing a summer move for Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni (h/t Sky Sport Switzerland. The Saudi Pro League club ended their season in third place in the league table. They failed to win any silverware and missed out on qualifying for next season's AFC Champions League. Advertisement Improving their defence has become a top priority, and Bastoni has been identified as a leading target to help fix their backline. Al-Nassr believe Bastoni could be a perfect fit for their project. They are willing to offer him up to €20 million per season on a four-year contract.. Inter could demand over €100 million for Bastoni Inter may demand a fee close to €100 million for Bastoni. He was recently part of the Inter side that suffered a heavy 5–0 loss against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Despite their interest, Al-Nassr are still waiting to open talks with the player or his camp. Advertisement Al-Nassr are also working to extend Cristiano Ronaldo's contract. The Portuguese star could soon sign a new two-year deal with the club. The Riyadh-based team are clearly preparing for a busy summer transfer window. Their aim is to sign top talent and return to the top of Saudi football next season.
