A visibly happy Luis Enrique faced the media after Paris Saint-Germain’s Intercontinental Cup victory against Flamengo. Fully aware of how close the final was against a Flamengo side he deeply respects, the PSG coach praised his opponent and addressed several key topics: Safonov the hero, PSG’s extraordinary 2025, and what comes next.
Here are his full comments, translated and transcribed in full.
What is your analysis of this final? Do you regret allowing Flamengo back into the game? And have you ever seen a goalkeeper save four penalties in a row like that?
“It’s the first time I’ve seen my goalkeeper save four penalties.”
“To be honest, I think we saw a very good match, with a Flamengo team that plays very well, and it was very difficult. I think we had a good first half, especially the beginning — we pressed very well and played in the opponent’s half. We scored a goal with Fabian (Ruiz) but it was disallowed. We played a very good match; it was very difficult.
We knew the difficulty of the match beforehand, we knew Flamengo’s quality, and in the end we went to extra time and penalties. And it’s the first time I’ve seen my goalkeeper save four penalties. We are happy to keep winning trophies, and we deserved to win this one.”
Congratulations, you’ve won a sixth trophy. What does it mean to win here in Doha?
“For us, it’s always special to come here to Doha. We’re happy every time we come here. Playing this match means a lot because it shows that we won the Champions League, and it’s nice to have another badge on our shirt next season.
Once again, we showed the mentality we had all last season. There’s still one Coupe de France match before the Christmas break, and after that our goal will be the same as last year: keep winning and keep playing good football.”
Was Safonov’s start a tactical choice, or is Chevalier still not fully fit? Can this performance change the hierarchy at goalkeeper?
“Do you really think this is the moment to talk about that? Really?
This is the moment to be very happy, to enjoy and celebrate this trophy, to congratulate everyone — those who played and those who didn’t — and to congratulate our supporters.
We want to keep making history, and that is the goal this season. But right now, we just need to enjoy this moment.”
The following questions are from international journalists
Congratulations on your work. You are a great coach, very appreciated in Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, and everywhere. Bravo.
(Applause in the room)
“Thank you very much, but this victory belongs to everyone.”
“(Luis Enrique answers in Spanish) Thank you very much, but this victory belongs to everyone: those who suffer with the team, the supporters, the players, the squad, the President, the Emir, the sporting director, the staff, the coach — everyone who makes up Paris Saint-Germain.
I think over these two and a half seasons — almost three — we’ve shown intensity, the desire to play football our supporters enjoy, and to win trophies. We’ve shown we’re on the right path and we must continue like this.”
You knew Filipe Luís as a player, and tonight you faced him for the first time as a coach. What did you think of him, and does he belong in Europe?
“Without any doubt. When we analyzed Flamengo, it was obvious. Not only do they win, but they play well. They know how to defend in different ways — pressing high or defending deep.
It’s a very high-level team, very compact, with very good players and a collective mentality similar to ours. Today, we had to reach excellence to beat Flamengo.
Of course Filipe Luís belongs in Europe, in any team in the world. He’s very young, just starting his coaching career, but I’m certain his teams will work well because his style of play is already very clearly identifiable.”
(The next question is inaudible, but appears to ask whether PSG is now the team to beat)
“I believe a team like ours — and ours in particular — with very high objectives, has become a reference team, and therefore a team everyone wants to beat, which is logical.”
“I think 2025 is an impossible year to reproduce for Paris Saint-Germain.”
“I think 2025 is an impossible year to reproduce for Paris Saint-Germain, an unforgettable year. From there, our intention is to continue with a very positive mix of experienced players and young players, to keep bringing happiness to our supporters, and to try to win every trophy.”
Filipe Luís joked that PSG’s plane must be very comfortable to arrive here so relaxed. Did you ever think this match would be easy?
“(Very surprised) Easy??? No. It was very difficult.
But my players’ quality, their mentality, this mindset we have to play football — it was all there. It was a real pleasure to play against a team that plays as well as Flamengo.
We played a very good match, especially the first half, which was incredible defensively. We pressed Flamengo constantly and controlled that half.
In the second half, especially after the penalty, it became more balanced and very, very difficult. I must congratulate Flamengo not only for today’s match, but also for their season. They won almost everything and played very good football.”
You end 2025 with four titles and one final lost, the Club World Cup final — or rather, reached. How would you define this year? Is it the best of your career?
“Four trophies? No. It’s more. Count again… count again…
(Joking tone) I don’t know, you dropped two somewhere, but anyway. I know not everyone likes me, but let me keep my trophies.
At Paris Saint-Germain, everything counts. Six trophies.
(He switches to French) ‘Not bad!’
We must continue. That’s our mentality: keep winning, keep making history. That’s what we want.”