Arsenal’s dreams of lifting the Champions League came to an end on Wednesday night after Luis Enrique-led Paris Saint-Germain – and the reaction of the French side’s tactician to Mikel Arteta claiming that his team were better over two legs has gone viral.
The north Londoners travelled to the French capital this week to overturn a one-goal deficit but found themselves, on the night, two goals down thanks to strikes from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi. In the 76th minute, Bukayo Saka scored a consolation.
The perennial Ligue 1 champions, who are widely regarded as one of the biggest clubs to never win the Champions League, will now lock horns with Inter Milan, led by the enigmatic Simone Inzaghi, at the Allianz Arena, Germany, on Saturday 31 May.
Enrique Responds to Arteta’s Bold, Post-Match Remarks
'Mikel Arteta is a great friend, but I don’t agree at all'
mikel arteta luis enrique
Irrespective of the result over two legs, Arteta – one of the best managers in world football – was adamant that his men were the better of the two. In fact, he insisted that Arsenal were ‘100%’ the best team across Europe’s primary competition this season.
Adding to that, the 43-year-old also revealed the ‘feedback’ he received from the PSG bench upon the full-time whistle. Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: “The feedback I got straight away from their bench was that we were much better than them.”
arsenal psg Related
Arsenal Fans Slam ‘Sloppy and Shaky’ Star After PSG Loss - But Have Figured Out the Reason
Following Arsenal's Champions League exit, supporters think he ‘looks so lost’ in recent weeks - with the PSG defeat no exception.
After celebrating with the thousands of supporters who turned up in their droves to watch PSG in action, Enrique entered the media hotseat and was asked by a reporter about Arteta’s remarks and, specifically, his interaction with the PSG bench.
“Mikel Arteta said, when he was sitting where you are, Arsenal were the better team over two legs and, what’s more, do you agree because your bench told him so?” Enrique, 55, was quizzed in the aftermath of his side booking a spot in the Munich-based final.
Although Enrique complimented Arsenal’s approach on away soil, he was quick to dispute his pal’s controversial take. The pair know each other well from their time spent together at Barcelona – but he was quick to shoot down the claim that the Gunners were the ‘better team’ across the two-legged semi-final encounter.
“I don’t agree at all. Mikel Arteta is a great friend, but I don’t agree at all. I think they played in a clever way today and they get the match to the right moment for them because they play in their own way that I want and the way they love to play.”
Enrique went on to add that scoring goals is the be-all and end-all in a football match and that PSG are the rightful finalists. “But, I think in the two legs, we scored more goals than them – and in football, that’s the most important thing in football. We deserve to be in the final.”
arsenal manager mikel arteta Related
Mikel Arteta Causes a Serious Stir With Claim About Liverpool’s Premier League Win
Fans have claimed the Arsenal boss does himself 'no favours' when making such remarks about Liverpool's 2024/25 Premier League triumph.