Luis Enrique has called on his Paris Saint-Germain side to “rewrite history” as they prepare for a high-stakes Champions League semi-final rematch with Arsenal. PSG travel to the Emirates Stadium for the first leg, aiming to overcome the Premier League side and secure a place in the final for only the second time in their history.
The French champions have already knocked out two English teams Liverpool and Aston Villa on their way to the last four. That experience, according to Luis Enrique, is a source of confidence. Despite finishing 15th in the league phase, PSG have found their rhythm in the knockout rounds. “We beat Liverpool and they won the Premier League this year,” he said. “That doesn’t mean anything in isolation, because every match is different. But it does help our confidence.”
Enrique hinted at his skepticism over the widely held belief that the Premier League is the best league in the world. While he didn’t directly dismiss the notion, he remained cautious. “Everybody speaks about the Premier League as the best league. I don’t know if I agree or not,” he said. “Whatever I say, people will criticise me anyway.”
The encounter in London is a rematch of their October meeting, which Arsenal won 2-0. On that occasion, PSG were without top scorer Ousmane Dembélé, who had a falling out with Enrique. Goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka sealed a routine win for Mikel Arteta’s team. But the PSG boss believes his side have grown since then.
“That game was seven or eight months ago. A lot has changed since then. We’ve reviewed the match and seen how far we’ve come. We are a more complete team now,” Enrique stated. He emphasized that his squad has matured, and their goal is clear: to reach the final and break new ground. “Our objective is to rewrite history. Arsenal has never won the Champions League, and only one of us will make it to the final. I hope that team will be PSG.”
Despite a recent 3-1 loss to Nice that ended a 30-match unbeaten run in Ligue 1, PSG enter the match with high morale. Their form in Europe has been impressive, and Enrique believes that setback will serve as a timely reminder rather than a cause for concern.
One of the standout players in PSG’s Champions League run has been midfielder Vitinha. The Portugal international has been pivotal in controlling games, although he admitted his performance levels have dipped since the dramatic 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa in the quarter-final second leg. Still, his journey has shaped him. Reflecting on his time in England with Wolves, where he made only 19 appearances on loan as a 20-year-old, Vitinha believes that challenging period was essential for his development.
“At the time, I didn’t see it as something positive. When you’re young, you always want to play,” he said. “But looking back, it was incredible. It helped me grow, both on the pitch and as a person. I wouldn’t change anything about it.”
As PSG prepare for another battle on English soil, they do so with a renewed sense of purpose. The scars of past defeats remain, but under Luis Enrique, they carry a quiet belief that this time, history might be theirs to write.
