
Luis Enrique Says Winning Champions League Again With PSG Will Be Easier Than Last Season as Ousmane Dembele & Co ‘Showed the Way’
Enrique Says PSG’s First Champions League Was the Hardest
For years, Paris Saint-Germain carried the burden of being Europe’s great underachievers. A club with unlimited resources, world-class stars, and relentless domestic dominance—but never the ultimate prize. That all changed last season when Luis Enrique’s PSG finally broke through, lifting the Champions League trophy for the very first time in the club’s history.
Now, as PSG prepare to launch their title defense, Enrique has made a bold claim: the hardest part is over. The Spanish coach believes the mental barrier that haunted Paris for over a decade has been shattered, and that winning the competition again could actually prove easier.
“The first title is always the most difficult,” Enrique said ahead of his side’s opening Champions League clash with Atalanta. “The players don’t always believe they can achieve it. But last year we showed the way. Now there’s no fear, only ambition.”
‘We Showed the Way’ – Enrique Sets Bold Ambition
Enrique’s message was clear: winning breeds belief. The former Barcelona coach insisted that last season’s historic triumph has instilled a newfound mentality within his squad.
“Now, all of PSG—our young players, our veterans, the fans, the city—believe it is possible. That’s the difference,” Enrique explained. “The first title is always the most complicated. The second, the third—those are the ones that come when you build on belief. For me, it will be easier now.”
Ambition is not in short supply in Paris. Having already delivered a treble—winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Champions League—Enrique is already looking ahead to more silverware. “Our goal is to make history again,” he said. “We want back-to-back European titles. We want to prove last season wasn’t a one-off. And with this group of players, why not?”
PSG Finally Silenced Critics After Years of Failure

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For over a decade, PSG’s name had been synonymous with disappointment on the European stage. Iconic collapses against Barcelona, Manchester United, and Real Madrid became painful memories for fans and ammunition for critics who argued the Parisian project lacked heart and resilience.
Last season erased those doubts. PSG didn’t just win—they dominated. They breezed through the knockout stages, eliminating Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal before producing a stunning 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the final.
It was a victory built not around Kylian Mbappe, who had already confirmed his departure to Real Madrid, but around a new generation of leaders: Ousmane Dembele, electric and relentless on the wing; Gianluigi Donnarumma, finally silencing doubters with big saves; Achraf Hakimi, tireless and decisive down the flanks; and Vitinha, orchestrating play from midfield.
The message was loud and clear: PSG no longer needed a single superstar. They had become a team.
Ousmane Dembele, Donnarumma and Hakimi Lead the Charge
If there was one defining image of last season, it wasn’t Mbappe lifting the trophy—it was Dembele dancing past defenders, Hakimi sprinting down the right, or Donnarumma pulling off point-blank saves when it mattered most.
Enrique singled out these players as symbols of PSG’s new mentality. “Ousmane showed the way with his courage,” the coach said. “Achraf never stopped running. Gigio gave us confidence in every big game. These are players who carried the team when we needed it most.”
Their performances not only sealed the treble but also gave PSG the collective confidence they had lacked in previous years.
Injuries Threaten PSG’s Start to Title Defense
Yet, as PSG prepare to begin their Champions League defense against Atalanta, they do so with some challenges. Dembele, so central to last season’s success, picked up an injury during the recent international break and is unavailable. So too is Desire Dou, another bright spark from Enrique’s squad.
That leaves PSG with questions in attack, though the coach has made it clear he believes his side has the depth to cope. Players like Randal Kolo Muani, Gonçalo Ramos, and Marco Asensio are expected to shoulder greater responsibility.
Despite the setbacks, Enrique refused to temper expectations. “This is the Champions League. There are no easy games,” he said. “But we have the mentality to overcome difficulties. Injuries are part of football. Our ambition doesn’t change.”
From Domestic Dominance to European Pedigree
For years, PSG’s success at home was unquestioned. They collected Ligue 1 titles with regularity, often finishing 20 points clear of rivals. But without European pedigree, their project felt incomplete.
Now, the perception has shifted. PSG are no longer just France’s richest club—they are European champions, with the scars of past failures replaced by the resilience of winners.
Enrique knows the challenge will be greater this time. “When you are the champion, everyone wants to beat you,” he admitted. “But this is also what motivates us. To prove that we are not just champions once, but a club that belongs at the very top year after year.”
The Weight of History Lifted

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Perhaps the most significant part of PSG’s breakthrough was psychological. For years, critics accused the team of lacking character, of crumbling under pressure. Last season, Enrique’s side faced every obstacle and came through unscathed.
By brushing aside established giants like Liverpool and Arsenal, PSG demonstrated not just talent but resilience. The 5-0 final victory over Inter was more than a scoreline—it was a statement. PSG had arrived.
Enrique summarized it best: “We showed the way. Now, there is no more fear. Only ambition.”
Looking Ahead: Atalanta and Beyond
PSG’s title defense begins in earnest this week with a trip to Atalanta—a tricky opponent known for high pressing and relentless intensity. It’s the kind of fixture that could test PSG’s depth without Dembele.
Beyond that lies the always-fiery Le Classique against Marseille in Ligue 1. Managing both domestic and European demands will require balance, but Enrique insists his squad is ready.
Conclusion: PSG Aim to Build a Dynasty
Last season’s Champions League triumph changed everything for Paris Saint-Germain. No longer the perennial nearly-men, they are now European champions with the confidence to go again.
For Luis Enrique, the hardest part was breaking the glass ceiling. The second step, he believes, will be easier. With leaders like Dembele, Donnarumma, Hakimi, and Vitinha, and a squad bursting with belief, PSG are no longer just chasing history—they are writing it.
“Winning once is beautiful,” Enrique said. “But winning twice? That’s how you build a dynasty.”
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