Al-Khelaifi Names Luis Enrique Best Decision in 15 Years, Snubbing Mbappe and Messi After PSG’s Back-to-Back Champions League Titles

Paris Saint-Germain have claimed back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles after defeating Arsenal on penalties, and club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has wasted no time identifying the man he considers the driving force behind the French club’s European dominance.

Appearing on CBS Sports Golazo following the victory, Al-Khelaifi delivered an unequivocal verdict on manager Luis Enrique, bypassing the high-profile eras of former PSG stars Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi to single out the Spaniard as his most consequential administrative decision. “Luis Enrique is truly the best asset, the best, my best decision. I talked for the last 15 years to sign him,” the Qatari executive stated.

Al-Khelaifi praised not only Enrique’s tactical acumen but also his temperament and man-management capabilities in one of European football’s most demanding environments. “He is a fantastic coach, the best coach in the world, but also as a person, it is incredible how he handles the day-to-day, the players, everything, even with the media,” the PSG president said.

The praise extended to the broader cultural transformation Enrique has overseen at the Parc des Princes. Al-Khelaifi, who physically embraced his manager during the interview, pointed to a collective identity built on discipline and resilience as central to the club’s success. “It is a source of pride to have Luis Enrique at the club. We have DNA, today we proved it. They are not just footballers, they are true warriors,” he declared.

The PSG president went further, attributing Enrique with a wider influence on the sport itself. “He revolutionized football, not only at Paris Saint-Germain, but all of football. I am very proud of him,” Al-Khelaifi added.

With his third Champions League title now secured, Luis Enrique joins an elite group in the competition’s history. According to reports, the Spanish coach now stands alongside Zinedine Zidane, Pep Guardiola, and Bob Paisley as joint second-most successful managers in the history of the UEFA Champions League, with only Carlo Ancelotti — a five-time winner — holding a superior record.

The result marks a significant milestone for PSG, a club that invested heavily in galactic individual talent across the previous decade without translating domestic dominance into European glory. The arrivals of Messi, Mbappé, and Neymar during that period generated global attention but failed to deliver a Champions League crown. Enrique’s appointment signalled a strategic pivot toward collective structure and squad cohesion over individual stardom.

Arsenal, who were competing in their first Champions League final in decades, suffered the defeat via a penalty shootout, with defender Gabriel among those to miss from the spot. PSG’s triumph also represents the culmination of a multi-year project under Al-Khelaifi, who has overseen the club since Qatar Sports Investments completed their takeover in 2011.

For Luis Enrique, the achievement adds a second consecutive Champions League medal to his record at PSG, further cementing his standing among the elite coaches of his generation. The upcoming 2026-27 European campaign will determine whether PSG can become only the second club in the modern Champions League era to claim three consecutive titles, a feat last achieved by Real Madrid between 2016 and 2018.