PSG head coach Luis Enrique gave an official interview to the club, discussing his reasons for extending his contract, the team's Champions League ambitions, and his relationships with players, the leadership, and supporters. This is the first part of this exclusive interview.

Coach, I'd like to start with a French saying: "Love only lasts three years." This is often true for coaches, but it doesn't seem to be the case with you and PSG.

I hope that saying isn't true. Love only lasts three years? Really?

It's a French saying about love, about emotions between couples...

Why only three years?

It means a relationship only lasts three years. But this saying hasn't proven true for you; you're showing it doesn't have to be.

That's right. This is the first time, isn't it?

Yes.

In my coaching career, this is the first time I've felt this way for three years. It's not easy at all. As a coach, it's very difficult to coach continuously for two, three, four, or even more years, because you're always working, always preparing for everything that matters for the team.

I remember times when I wanted to stop and think for a moment, but there's always something to worry about. You win a match, and ten minutes later, you start thinking about the next opponent, regardless of their level. If the opponent is a very strong team, that becomes even more motivating. But you're always worried about losing, about failure, about the team not performing well.

As a coach, these emotions are very difficult for me to handle. So coaching for a long time is challenging, at least for me. But Paris is different; Paris is very special. Everything we experience in Paris is truly special. From the very first days here, it's been special to me, so we continue. We keep moving forward and keep trying to improve.

So your decision to stay was made after considering human relationships, competitive aspects, personal factors, and all other elements.

Yes, of course. The trust from the club, from the president and Luis Campos, as well as the relationship I've built with Luis Campos from day one—it's all very special. It's a very good combination. All of us are working together, hoping to continue improving and enjoying what we do, while also responding to the supporters' backing. Ultimately, the fans are our greatest motivation.

May I show you a video?

Of course.

This is your first interview when you joined the club. Let's listen to a few things you said back then, then we can talk. It's wonderful to watch this video today because you also spoke about trust back then.

That's what gives me confidence as a coach. I said something back then... I didn't know what the final result would be, because nobody knows the final result. But will we lose? Yes, we will lose. Even if we control the ball more than the opponent, we will lose matches. We will stick with this style of play, even if we lose matches or can't get past the group stage in the World Cup or European Championship.

I think that's what you can see and feel in that interview. And I completely believe this style of play is the best way to win. Usually, I also make mistakes, but in Paris, it's different.

There's understanding here, expectations from the fans, and the team's desire to improve, as well as mutual trust. We're also fortunate to have such players. When I proposed different player options to Luis Campos and whether they fit the team's philosophy, he trusted me.

Because, in my opinion, a brave and excellent sports director should bring in players who fit the coach's philosophy, not just players who fit his own ideas. Of course, in our case, his philosophy and mine are aligned. But that's the key point. Then, of course, comes the club's ability to bring in outstanding players, like what we have now.

Specifically this season, is there any record you particularly want to achieve or break? I'm also thinking about finishing in the top 8 in Europe—why not? Is that also motivation for you in the new season?

Of course. However, there's something interesting about this. In the first year, nobody thought we could win the Champions League. In the second year, at the start of the season, nobody believed it either; everyone said: "No way, they can't win another Champions League." Then we won two consecutive titles.

That's how people are. Now, if you ask any Parisian, whether they like football or not, and ask them: "Who will win the Champions League this year?" They'll all say: "PSG."

No, no. This is really hard to believe. You have to understand that the assessment in the first year was inaccurate, and the same is true in the second year, and similarly in the third year. No, no. There are many teams—six, seven, eight teams—that could win this Champions League.

We're one of them, but it will be very difficult. We're not absolute favorites. This is a balance I need to strike, because there's a lot of noise around our club. Whether the situation is positive or negative, you always need to stay level-headed.

Moving on to the Champions League, I'm also thinking about our upcoming matches against two very strong clubs: Manchester City and Barcelona. But I know you—these are precisely the challenges you particularly enjoy.

We prepare for matches like this. All the players, all the coaches—we're more motivated than the opponent because we have a chance to equal the record held by Real Madrid. That's special motivation. We'll face Manchester City away next, and then Barcelona at home. Both teams have won the Champions League and are contenders for the title.

This Ligue 1 season has also made you realize that no two seasons are the same, because competition is fierce. We've also discussed the team's desire to climb higher in the standings. This also drives you.

No matter what stage we're at, it's never easy for me. No season in Ligue 1 has been easy. We've won the title in three recent seasons, but the process has never been easy. There's a saying I've heard many times. Every time I talk to a coach or player coming to Ligue 1, they say: "I always heard it's easy here, but in reality it's not easy at all."

The physical and technical quality of Ligue 1 players is constantly improving, and matches are always difficult. I can't remember any easy away matches. Maybe one or two in the first three years, but all the other matches have been difficult for us. I think it's important to maintain this competition; it helps us continue to improve.

You often say you want to make history. But what does that mean to you? Because it means more than just trophies and winning finals.

When we came here, the first goal was to make history. Everyone knows what that means—winning important titles. For us, there's no title more important than the Champions League. We've won two consecutive titles, but now is not the time to stop.

This is true for me as a coach, and true for all the players. Because when you're a top-class player, one of your main characteristics is always wanting to win. I want to win matches, even in a training session with Joaquín Valdés today, I want to win. Tomorrow, I want to win in training, and tomorrow I also want to win in England. The goal is always to win, to keep winning.

I don't stop thinking about how many matches we'll ultimately win. We want to win important titles, but we also know we can't win forever. All kinds of situations can happen. In these special moments, it's very difficult to keep winning, but that's also our motivation.

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