Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has made a bold declaration about his team's Champions League credentials, insisting they should still be regarded as favourites ahead of Premier League leaders Arsenal this season.
PSG's Challenging Path After Newcastle Draw
The French champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Newcastle United at the Parc des Princes in their final Champions League league phase match on Wednesday night. This result proved costly, with both PSG and Newcastle finishing outside the crucial top eight positions that guarantee automatic qualification for the last-16 stage.
Both clubs must now await Friday's draw to discover their play-off round opponents. One team will face Monaco, while the other will meet Azerbaijani side Qarabag in what represents a significant hurdle before reaching the knockout stages.
Arsenal's Flawless Campaign Contrasts With PSG's Struggles
Meanwhile, Arsenal have emerged as genuine contenders after becoming the only team to win all eight of their Champions League league phase matches. Their perfect record has led many pundits and supporters to consider Mikel Arteta's side as favourites to lift the trophy this season.
Luis Enrique, however, remains defiant about his team's prospects, drawing confidence from last season's remarkable campaign. PSG faced similar circumstances in the previous Champions League, finishing outside the top eight before navigating the play-off round and ultimately winning the entire competition.
Historical Precedent Gives PSG Confidence
The Spanish manager highlighted how his team overcame adversity last season, beating Brest 10-0 on aggregate in the play-offs before eliminating Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal en route to the final. Their comprehensive 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the championship match demonstrated their capability to peak at the crucial moment.
Speaking after the Newcastle draw, Luis Enrique analysed the match: 'It was a very good first half. We started positively. We missed a penalty, but we created chances. The equaliser just before half-time hurt.'
He acknowledged Newcastle's physical approach: 'Physically, Newcastle are strong. We knew that before the match. We deserved to win, not by a huge margin, but by a little more. We face very different teams in Ligue 1.'
Manager's Unwavering Belief in His Squad
The former Barcelona manager defended his players despite the disappointing result: 'I have nothing to reproach my players for, even if some didn't perform at their usual level. I don't see anyone as a bigger favorite than us in the competition.'
Luis Enrique added with characteristic determination: 'We can be better, get better results. But we're here, we're ready. We'll see who we play against, Monaco or Qarabag.'
He maintained his demanding standards while putting the result in context: 'I'm very demanding of my team. We have to analyse who we're going to face. We had 13 points before the last match. We deserved to win against Newcastle. The defeat in Lisbon, however, was undeserved.'
The Champions League Landscape
This season's Champions League has created an intriguing narrative, with Arsenal's dominant group stage performance contrasting sharply with PSG's need to navigate the play-off round. Yet historical precedent suggests that early perfection doesn't guarantee ultimate success, while overcoming adversity can build championship mentality.
The coming weeks will reveal whether Luis Enrique's confidence is justified or whether Arsenal's flawless campaign will translate into sustained Champions League success. Both clubs face different challenges, with PSG needing to overcome their play-off opponents while Arsenal enjoy a rest period before the knockout stages begin.
