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Champions League: Luis Enrique admits Paris St Germain were no match for Arsenal

Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique acknowledged his team's poor performance after a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in their clash on Tuesday.

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique conceded that his side was no match for Arsenal after suffering a 2-0 defeat in their UEFA Champions League clash on Tuesday. The result left Enrique uncertain about how long it would take to rebuild PSG into a European powerhouse, as his team struggled to compete against the dominant Gunners.

Arsenal's Kai Havertz continued his fine form by scoring the opening goal 20 minutes into the match, his fifth of the season. Mikel Arteta's men pressed relentlessly, with Bukayo Saka adding a second goal 15 minutes later from a free kick that caught PSG off guard. The victory propelled Arsenal to a crucial win after drawing their first match of the group stage against Atalanta.

Despite PSG hitting the woodwork twice and showing glimpses of urgency after halftime, they couldn't challenge Arsenal's control. The Premier League side's defense was solid, neutralizing PSG's attack and denying them any significant momentum throughout the game.

Luis Enrique, who left out Ousmane Dembélé due to disciplinary issues, accepted responsibility for the defeat but questioned his team's intensity and fight. “Today we were far away from the standards you need in this kind of match. Arsenal were much better in terms of pressure and intensity, they won every duel," Enrique admitted post-match.

The Spanish coach, who led PSG to the Champions League semi-finals last season, acknowledged Arsenal as a step up in quality compared to their earlier opponents, Girona. PSG, still adapting to life without talisman Kylian Mbappe, who departed for Real Madrid in the summer, appeared in transition and lacked the cutting edge needed to handle the high-octane play from Arteta's side.

"This was our first big rival at a higher level. We knew from the first minute they would press us high and they did it aggressively, and we couldn’t cope with that pressure," Enrique said. He praised Arsenal’s organization, noting that Arteta’s five-year tenure has allowed the Gunners to mature into a formidable unit.

With PSG still atop Ligue 1 and eager to bounce back in their next group match against PSV Eindhoven, Enrique faces the challenge of reinvigorating his squad. While it’s clear where he wants PSG to be, the Spaniard remains uncertain about the timeline for achieving those goals. “I have a clear idea where I want us to be, but I don’t know how much time I will need,” Enrique concluded.

Arsenal, meanwhile, will look to build on their victory when they face Shakhtar Donetsk after the international break, sitting comfortably in the top eight of the newly structured 36-team Champions League phase.

Published By:

Saurabh Kumar

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