Luis Enrique’s penalty-proof PSG seek another trophy against Aston Villa

Paris Saint-Germain begin their new season against Aston Villa in Austria on Wednesday, with a new trophy the immediate target for the European champions and a major personal milestone within reach for manager Luis Enrique.

The UEFA Super Cup will also give the 56-year-old Spaniard an opportunity to extend one of the most remarkable records in modern football. Enrique has won 16 of the 19 finals he has contested during his senior coaching career and will hope to add another success when Paris Saint-Germain face Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.

The match marks the official start of the campaign for a Paris Saint-Germain side who have won Europe’s premier club competition twice. It also represents another test of Enrique’s ability to guide his teams through the decisive moments of a season.

His record in finals has been outstanding since his coaching career began with Barcelona’s reserve team. Across spells with Roma, Celta Vigo, Barcelona, Spain and Paris Saint-Germain, Enrique has reached 19 finals, winning 16 of them.

His first final victory came in 2015, when he led Barcelona to a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final. His latest triumph arrived in the 2026 UEFA Champions League final, when Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after the match ended 1-1.

Enrique’s only defeat with a national side came in the 2021 UEFA Nations League final, when Spain lost 2-1 to France. Apart from that result and the Spanish Super Cup, which was played over two legs, he has lost only one of the 16 one-off finals he has contested with clubs.

His record with Paris Saint-Germain is even more impressive. Enrique has guided the club to nine victories in 10 finals, beginning with a 2-0 win over Toulouse in the Trophee des Champions in January 2024 at the Parc des Princes.

The sole setback came in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final in the United States, where Paris Saint-Germain were beaten 3-0 by Chelsea.

Enrique’s recent success has also been defined by the manner in which his team have won trophies. Paris Saint-Germain’s last four titles have all been secured through penalty shootouts, a sequence that highlights the team’s composure under pressure, the mental strength instilled by their manager and, according to RMC, an element of fortune.

The run began against Tottenham in last season’s UEFA Super Cup. The match finished 2-2 before Paris Saint-Germain prevailed 4-3 on penalties.

A similar outcome followed against Flamengo in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in December. After a 1-1 draw, Paris Saint-Germain won the shootout 2-1.

The club then faced Olympique de Marseille in the Trophee des Champions in Kuwait at the start of the current year. That game also ended 2-2, with Paris Saint-Germain eventually winning 4-1 on penalties.

The most recent example came against Arsenal in the 2026 UEFA Champions League final. Paris Saint-Germain again required a shootout after a 1-1 draw, winning 4-3 from the spot.

Enrique now has the chance to continue that sequence against Aston Villa, who are managed by his fellow Spaniard Emery, a former Paris Saint-Germain coach. Another victory would give the European champions an ideal start to their new season and provide another addition to the growing collection of finals in which Enrique has found a way to win.