PSG Champions League run down to correct mindset, says Luis Enrique

The Spanish coach acknowledged that he had learned to keep a lid on his emotions in order to set the right example for his players.

"If I showed my emotions, I’d be sent off every match," he said.

"I had to analyse myself and calm down so my players would understand that the most important thing is to have the right mentality.

"A volcano on the sidelines is a disaster for the team. I always try not to talk to the referees because I think it would send the wrong message to my players."

The coach added that he had reached a turning point earlier in the season, when Champions League results fell short of expectations.

PSG had been on the brink of elimination in the competition's league stage, having won just one of their opening five matches.

"I don’t remember the exact moment but when our Champions League results were disastrous and it felt unfair I gave a talk to the players. We held a meeting with the staff and players and said that we were one of the best teams in Europe," he said.

"The efficiency wasn’t there yet but I told them ‘stay calm, we’ll keep going’. The players have been sensational since then. This is a beautiful moment for our supporters."

2 - The match between #Inter and #PSG will be the 2nd final in the history of the European Cup/#UEFAChampionsLeague between an Italian and a French team after Marseille-Milan 1-0, also in that case in Munich. Final. pic.twitter.com/SAeM3sEDHR

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) May 7, 2025

Since that run, the French side have won nine games out of 11 in the competitions and Luis Enrique credited their transformation to hard work and effort in training.

"There’s no one thing that explains this," he said.

"It’s a day-by-day process. In the first year, we did good work but it wasn’t enough. I told them that if I didn’t see a different mentality at every training session, I would leave. This year, every training was at the highest level — the players were exceptional."

Looking ahead to the club's first Champions League final since 2020, captain Marquinhos – who has been at the club since 2013 – praised his coach for helping them get there.

"The coach took it one step at a time to improve this team. When he arrived, he saw there was a lot to change, especially in terms of mentality," the Brazilian said.

"That doesn’t happen overnight. He worked gradually. There were matches that unlocked confidence for us – Manchester City, Liverpool... those games confirmed our work.

"Last season, we sometimes played well and created chances but couldn’t finish them. This year’s results show we’re on the right path."