Luis Enrique and his 'golden guarantee' of an 83% chance of winning ahead of the final against Arsenal.
With a record of winning 15 out of 18 finals in his career, Luis Enrique became PSG's biggest source of inspiration ahead of their clash with Arsenal in Budapest.
Tonight, the focus of the football world will be on Budapest, where the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League final will take place between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal. While the English side are riding high after winning the Premier League, PSG possesses a formidable weapon on the sidelines: Luis Enrique – a man dubbed the expert at the final match.
The position of the reigning champion
PSG entered this year's final as the defending champions after their crushing 5-0 victory over Inter Milan last season. Their journey to Budapest was filled with emotional highs and lows, particularly their dramatic comeback against Bayern Munich with a 6-5 aggregate score over two legs in the semi-finals.
Although experts believe Mikel Arteta's Arsenal will create a much more balanced game than their PSG opponents last year, history is on Luis Enrique's side. The Spanish strategist not only brings a control-oriented style of play but also a winning DNA in crucial matches.
The 83% figure should make Arsenal wary.
Since making a name for himself at Barcelona in 2014, Luis Enrique has amassed a huge collection of 21 major and minor titles in 12 years. His most impressive statistic lies in his ability to win finals: he has been involved in 18 finals as a head coach, winning 15 and losing only 3.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of finals participated in | 18 |
| Number of times won the championship | 15 |
| Win rate | 83.3% |
| Total number of major titles | 21 |
His first successes began with Barcelona's historic treble in 2015, including a 3-1 victory over Juventus in Berlin. When he moved to PSG in 2023, Enrique implemented a cultural revolution, transforming the Parc des Princes team into a true winning machine in France and a dominant force in Europe.
Resilience after the lows
Of course, Enrique's career hasn't been all smooth sailing. He's experienced setbacks in the 2015 Spanish Super Cup, the 2021 Nations League, and most recently, a 0-3 defeat against Chelsea at the FIFA Club World Cup in July 2025. However, his greatest strength lies in his ability to bounce back from setbacks.
Immediately after the defeat against Chelsea, Enrique led PSG to victory in all three of their most recent finals, including the UEFA Super Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, and the French Super Cup. With his seasoned experience and familiarity with the pressure of cup competitions, Luis Enrique has undoubtedly prepared tactical plans to neutralize the youthful energy of Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, aiming to defend their Champions League title.
