Luis Enrique Admits PSG ‘Suffered’ in Champions League Final Win Over Arsenal in Budapest

Paris Saint-Germain have completed a historic back-to-back Champions League triumph, defeating Arsenal on penalties at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on 31 May 2026 — but manager Luis Enrique was far from celebratory in his post-match assessment, offering a strikingly honest appraisal of a final that went to the wire.

The match ended 1-1 after 120 minutes of tense football, with the trophy ultimately decided in a penalty shootout that PSG won 4-3. Arsenal defender Gabriel missed the decisive spot-kick, blazing his effort over the crossbar to hand the French champions their second consecutive European title — a first in the club’s history.

Kai Havertz opened the scoring for Arsenal in the first half, giving Mikel Arteta’s side the lead they had worked meticulously to protect. Ousmane Dembele restored parity for PSG in the second half, setting up a period of extra time that produced no further goals before the shootout settled matters.

“It was a very tough match, a lot of suffering,” Enrique told reporters after the final whistle. “Neither team deserved to win this match. But if I analyse the season, we deserve to win our second Champions League.”

The Spanish manager acknowledged the discipline of Arsenal’s defensive setup, conceding that his side found it difficult to unlock Arteta’s structured low block, particularly in the opening 45 minutes. “We struggled to find space,” Enrique explained. “We improved in the second half. It’s difficult to overcome. We managed to get a draw.”

On the penalty shootout, Enrique revealed that the process of selecting takers was left largely to the players themselves. “We did it the usual way to decide the penalty takers. They chose among themselves who was the freshest,” he said, adding that he observed the shootout with composure: “I watched the shootout calmly.”

Despite his measured words about the final itself, Enrique did not shy away from the magnitude of the achievement when viewed in the context of PSG’s broader season. “This back-to-back win was incredible. It’s time to celebrate. It’s time for a holiday,” he said.

The victory cements PSG’s standing among European football’s elite. Prior to their 2024-25 triumph, the club had never won the Champions League, making consecutive titles a remarkable statement of intent under Enrique’s management. The win also reinforces the club’s transformation since their rebuild following the departures of high-profile stars, with Enrique opting for a more collective, system-driven approach rather than relying on individual brilliance.

Arsenal, meanwhile, will reflect on another near-miss in their pursuit of a first European Cup. Arteta’s side reached the final having produced one of their most disciplined defensive campaigns in the competition, and their tactical structure came close to frustrating PSG sufficiently to claim the trophy. The shootout outcome will add to the disappointment of a side that had come so close to ending the club’s long wait for continental glory.