Paris Saint-Germain Head Coach Luis Enrique praised his players to keep the right mindset in their 3-1 aggregated victory over Arsenal in the semi-final of the Champions League.
The Spanish coach acknowledged that he had learned to keep a lid on his emotions to give the right example for his players.
“If I showed my emotions, I would be broadcast every game,” he said.
“I had to analyze and calm myself, so that 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 the results of the Champions League did not come to expectations.
PSG was about to elimination in the competition stage of the competition and had only won one of their opening of five games.
“I don't remember the exact moment, but when our Champions League results were disastrous and felt it unfair, I gave a lecture with the players. We gave a meeting with the staff and players and said we were one of the best teams in Europe,” he said.
“The efficiency was not there yet, but I told them,” Stay calm, we'll continue “. The players have been sensational since then. This is a wonderful 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, even in that case in Munich. Final. pic.twitter.com/saem3sedhr
– OPTAPAOLO (@OPTAPAOLO) 7 May 2025
Since that run, the French side have won nine games of the 11 in the competitions and Luis Enrique has attributed their transformation to hard work and trouble in training.
“There is nothing that explains this,” he said.
“It's a day-to-day process. In the first year we did a good job, but it wasn't enough. I told them that if I saw no other mentality with every training session, I would leave. This year every training was at the highest level-the players were exceptional.”
Looking ahead to the first final of the club since 2020, captain Marquinhos – who has been in the club since 2013 – praised his coach to help them get there.
“The coach took it step by step to improve this team. When he arrived, he saw that there was much to change, especially in terms of mentality,” said the Brazilian.
“That does not happen from one day to the next. He gradually worked. There were competitions that trust us – Manchester City, Liverpool … those games confirmed our work.
“Last season we sometimes played well and we created opportunities, but they could not finish. The results of this year show that we are on the right track.”
PSG will be confronted in the final in Munich in the final on 31 May.