Paris Saint-Germain have successfully retained their crown as the kings of Europe, securing back-to-back UEFA Champions League trophies under the guidance of Luis Enrique.
The French giants held their nerve in a nerve-shredding penalty shootout, defeating Arsenal 4-3 at the Puskás Aréna after a tense 1-1 draw through 120 minutes of football.
Kai Havertz had given the Gunners an early lead, but an Ousmane Dembélé equalizer from the penalty spot in the second half ultimately sent the match the distance.
In the shootout, it was Lucas Beraldo who converted the decisive fifth penalty for the Parisians before Gabriel Magalhães missed for Arsenal, confirming absolute European glory for the French side.
With this historic victory, Luis Enrique has solidified his status as arguably the preeminent elite tactical mind in modern football, joining an exclusive club of managers to win three or more European Cups.
Remarkably, Enrique’s historic triumph occurred on the exact same day that a massive managerial vacancy opened up on Merseyside.
Earlier on Saturday, Liverpool Fenway Sports Group (FSG) sent shockwaves through the footballing world by announcing the sacking of Arne Slot. Despite a Premier League title victory in 2025, a disappointing fifth-place finish and a perceived stagnation in style of play ultimately forced the hierarchy’s hand.
Now, Liverpool find themselves at a crucial crossroads. While departing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola remains heavily linked with the Anfield hotseat, the timing of Slot’s dismissal alongside Enrique’s historic achievement raises an intriguing question: Should FSG be aiming higher?
Rather than settling for a transitional appointment, the Liverpool board should be setting themselves the ultimate challenge auditioning and attracting the absolute best manager in Europe to replace Slot.
Enrique joins an elite club
If FSG need any reminder of Enrique’s tactical masterclass, they only have to look at how his PSG side systematically dismantled Liverpool in Europe over the last few seasons.
The Parisians have proved to be the ultimate thorn in Liverpool’s side, knocking the Reds out of the Champions League for two consecutive seasons. Most recently, in April 2026, Enrique’s men completely shut down Slot’s side in a dominant 4-0 aggregate quarterfinal sweep.
PSG secured a comfortable 2-0 victory at the Parc des Princes before traveling to Anfield and repeating the 2-0 scoreline courtesy of an Ousmane Dembélé masterclass.
Across those 180 minutes of football, Slot’s side failed to score a single goal against the eventual champions. Ironically, despite the tactical chasm on the pitch, Slot was incredibly vocal in his admiration of Enrique’s setup. Following that heavy quarterfinal exit,
Slot openly lauded the “champions of Europe” and expressed deep respect for the fluid, high-pressing identity Enrique had instilled in Paris an identity that Slot ultimately failed to replicate on Merseyside.
Calls for Enrique to become Liverpool manager
One Liverpool supporter, UFC fighter Paddy ‘the baddy’ Pimblett, has spoken on CBS’s coverage of the Champions League Final.
When asked who he wanted to be the next Liverpool manager, he commented, “ I want a Luis Enrique to win tonight and then step down from being PSG manager because he’s won twice”, and proceeded to call Liverpool a new challenge for the manager in their current state.
“I want Luis Enrique to win tonight and then step down.” 😅
Paddy The Baddy has made his choice on who he wants to see as the next Liverpool manager 🔴 pic.twitter.com/gsAPtDwIIc
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 30, 2026
Luis Enrique has not only given his clubs the highest level of success but also plays with an exciting, attacking style. This is the type of ‘heavy metal football’ loved under Jurgen Klopp and referenced by Mohamed Salah in his recent social media message.
While prising Enrique away from a dominant, state-backed PSG project seems like an impossible task on paper especially with his contract running until 2027 the Spaniard’s deep-rooted, romantic infatuation with Liverpool Football Club is a poorly kept secret.
Enrique has long held massive, unwavering respect for Liverpool’s history, the unique culture of the club, and the legendary power of the Anfield crowd.
In a candid interview, the tactical mastermind revealed just how far his fascination with the Reds goes, admitting he once acted like an ordinary supporter just to experience the stadium’s world-famous atmosphere.
Enrique confessed that he used his close connection with former Red Luis Garcia to secure a ticket for a match at Anfield. Rather than sitting comfortably in the executive luxury of the directors’ box, Enrique specifically requested a seat right in the middle of the Anfield crowd, explicitly so he could immerse himself in the passion of the Kop.
ReadLiverpoolFC reacts:
Paddy Pimblett might have been speaking as a fan, but FSG would be wise to listen. The historic ties are there.
The tactical fit is seamless. The question is whether Liverpool have the courage to make the call.
Could FSG tempt him away from his lucrative PSG contract, and would Enrique want to go to Anfield as more than a fan or opposition manager?