Luis Enrique Offers Honest Thoughts on Barcelona Missing Champions League Final
Paris Saint-Germain are headed to the UEFA Champions League final after a 2-1 win over Arsenal on Wednesday night at Parc des Princes, clinching a 3-1 victory on aggregate.
Chasing goals to stay alive in the tie, Arsenal were instead put on the back foot when Fabián Ruiz coolly finished in the 27th minute to give PSG the lead.
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The hosts took that edge into halftime and nearly added another from the spot after a handball in the box, but David Raya came up big to deny Vitinha and keep Arsenal in it.
PSG didn't let up, and Achraf Hakimi eventually blasted in a second to ignite the home crowd. Bukayo Saka pulled one back to give Arsenal a glimmer of hope, but it wasn't enough to stop the French champions from punching their ticket to the final.
Luis Enrique talks about the missed chance to face BarcelonaAfter the match, manager Luis Enrique was asked about the final, where PSG will face Inter Milan, and the missed chance of facing Barcelona for a second straight year, but this time in Munich with a trophy on the line.
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'I also think Barça played well; they scored six goals,' Enrique told El Larguero. 'If someone tells you you're going to score six goals in a semifinal and still get eliminated, you wouldn't believe it.
'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.
'The result, honestly, was a bit strange [from Tuesday]. But if I'm being honest, for me, playing a Champions League final against Barça would've been the worst.'
PSG have two more Ligue 1 matches to wrap up the season. Then, they have the Coupe de France final against Stade de Reims, and meet Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
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