PSG guns down Arsenal in penalty shoot out to win Champions League

There can be little doubt that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) under the leadership of Head Coach Luis Enrique is the best team in Europe, and that was shown why today in Budapest, Hungary.

The Champions League final today was a well-fought battle between the EPL Champions Arsenal and the fifth consecutive Ligue 1 champions PSG.

After PSG’s display over two legs against Bayern Munich in the semi-final, it was difficult to see any team able to stop PSG retaining the Champions League trophy. 

Luis Enrique has built this team into the very best in Europe, and last year was not just some one-off. 

PSG has not missed Kylian Mbappe; in fact, it is better off without him. The French striker has yet to make his mark at Real Madrid.

Luis Enrique’s attacking trio has proven deadly this season, although Arsenal was able to nullify their potency today. 

With the ball coming off Leandro Trossard’s hand, fortuitously falling in the path of Kai Havertz to score, Arsenal were up 1-0 in the sixth minute of the match.

From then on it was a cagey affair with Arsenal putting bodies behind the ball and defending for dear life.

Arsenal have been devastating with set pieces this season, and if the Londoners were to get over the line and win their first Champions League title, it was likely to be through this route.

PSG are deadly in transition, and with the firepower they possess up front, the task is to contain them rather than go toe-to-toe with them in attack.

Arsenal looked to defend their lead rather than seek to urgently add to it.

They managed to hang on and at half-time were still ahead.

In the second half, PSG looked to take the game to Arsenal and break through their defensive fortress.

In the 62nd minute, Cristhian Mosquera brought down Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the box, leading to a penalty in PSG’s favour. Ousmane Dembele stepped up and converted, levelling the game.

Many thought Kvaratskhelia should have been shown a second yellow card for his foul.

At full-time, the game was even and went into 30 minutes of extra time. Today was about defence and breaking up play.

After the additional 30 minutes and with so many weary legs, it went to penalties. With both Eze and Gabriel missing, PSG won the day, 4-3 on penalties.

The team from Paris have retained the Champions League trophy, being the first side to do so since Real Madrid did so between the 2016-2018 seasons. 

Luis Enrique goes down in history as one of the greatest coaches in world football after winning the Champions League on three occasions. He is up there with  Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, Bob Paisley, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho.

 After the game, Arsenal’s Declan Rice said: “It’s gutting, it’s devastating to lose a Champions League final on penalties. Trying to take a perspective on how far we’ve come as a group. Incredible season, gave it absolutely everything, we took the game to penalties. It’s a lottery. It’s football.

“You can either win or lose on penalties. Some of the best teams ever have lost on penalties and we were on the receiving end of that tonight. We win together, we lose together, I’m so proud of these boys. I can’t speak highly enough of everyone. I’m obviously gutted, but I’m trying to take perspective. It’s been an incredible journey this season. We will be back.”

After raising the trophy aloft and bringing glory again to Paris, Luis Enrique said: “It was very tough and difficult. Congratulations to Arsenal, it was very tough. They played great. It’s normal. They try to take the match into phases where they are strong. We tried to control the ball and press. We have won the title. 

“It can only be positive; it’s a dream come true. I think it was a high-level final against one of the most difficult opponents, especially after they scored in the first ten minutes. We were in hot water, but we were able to get back up. They were perfectly defending, physically attacking; it was hard to power through.”

PSG now joins the elite clubs of Europe and is a force in world football. Luis Enrique has done a tremendous job in getting the club to the pinnacle.

“I think we have deserved it over the course of the season, even if the final was closely fought. Paris and PSG needed to join the group of the very best clubs, and now we don’t want to leave it. We want to stay there by continuing to identify ourselves through a style of play that people enjoy watching. It has taken a tremendous amount of work, but right now things are going our way in Paris, and sometimes that helps. When someone truly enjoys what they do, it doesn’t feel like work.

“In fact, I have to tell the players to stop training. This team will compete again next year, and the level will be extremely high. When you love what you do, nothing feels difficult,” said the coach of the Champions League winners.