Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique has revealed that the club’s historic Champions League triumph came on the back of a necessary strategic shift following Kylian Mbappe’s departure.
Mbappe, who has Cameroonian and Algerian roots, left PSG for Real Madrid at the end of last season after a decorated spell in Paris.
The move marked the end of an era for the Ligue 1 side and prompted a recalibration of the team’s identity and approach under Enrique.
The adjustments culminated in a resounding 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League final on Saturday night in Munich—securing the club’s first European crown.
Reflecting on the journey and the pressures leading up to the final, Enrique admitted his main concern was the emotional burden on his players.
“The biggest worry this week was managing the nerves, because there was too much pressure and I tried to lower it to play good football,” he said, acknowledging that finals often stifle attacking quality.
On the club’s transformation after Mbappe’s exit, Enrique noted that the rebuild was deliberate and focused.
“We did this to try a new path without Kylian, who wanted to go to Real Madrid,” he said.
“We approached it involving top-level players to help the team grow and those who arrived made the team take a leap in quality.”
Saturday’s victory sealed a continental treble for PSG, a feat never before achieved in the club’s history.
