Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has declared his side the best team in Europe ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich. Speaking at a pre-match press conference, the Spaniard expressed supreme confidence in his squad's all-round performance this season, while also acknowledging the threat posed by their German opponents and fellow semi-finalists Arsenal.
Enrique stated that, based on their displays, no team surpasses PSG. "Based on what we're showing as a team, there's no one better than us," he said. He pointed to both attacking and defensive statistics as evidence of their strength. However, he conceded that Bayern Munich, who have lost only two matches this campaign, might hold a slight edge in consistency.
The PSG coach emphasized that the tie will be decided by a balance of attacking intent and defensive solidity. Despite facing Bayern's dangerous wingers, including the in-form Michael Olise, Enrique confirmed he will not shackle his own attacking full-backs, Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, to purely defensive roles. He referenced their previous Champions League success, asking, "Do you think we won the Champions League with Mendes and Hakimi only in defense?"
Enrique was effusive in his praise for Bayern Munich's squad and their manager, Vincent Kompany. He described all of Bayern's players as "top-level" individually and as a cohesive team. The PSG boss specifically highlighted his admiration for Kompany's attacking philosophy, which he witnessed during the Belgian's time in England with Burnley. "Kompany is a top-level coach; he showed that in England too. You can see it at Bayern, with how difficult it is to play against them," Enrique said.
The first leg at the Allianz Arena represents a significant test for Enrique's project at PSG, which has been built around a more intense and collective style than seen in previous seasons. A positive result in Munich would place them in a strong position to reach the final in their manager's first year at the helm. For Bayern, under Kompany, the match is an opportunity to advance to a Champions League final on home soil at their own stadium.
This semi-final clash pits two of Europe's most attack-minded coaches against each other, promising a tactical duel. Enrique's comments set the stage for a contest where both teams are expected to pursue victory aggressively over the two legs, rather than adopt a cautious approach.
