Luis Enrique is savoring one of the finest moments of his managerial career after leading Paris Saint-Germain to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title. Following a dominant 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the 2024–25 final, the Spanish coach didn’t hold back in sending a message to PSG’s rivals ahead of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Having already conquered France—winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions—PSG added continental glory with the Champions League title. With just one more frontier left, Luis Enrique made it clear during his post-match press conference that the Club World Cup is firmly on his radar.
“I think it’s an incredible competition. It won’t reach that level in this first edition in terms of importance for the title, but the fact that every four years we’ll be able to see who the best team in the world is—just like we do with national teams at the World Cup or the Euros—is going to make it a true benchmark without a doubt.”
When asked about PSG’s ambitions for the tournament, Enrique didn’t hesitate. “We’re going to approach it seriously. This season, we want to finish in the best possible way, and the ultimate goal is clearly to be competitive and put ourselves in a position to win our fifth title of the season,” the boss said.
PSG will compete in Group B of the expanded Club World Cup, alongside fellow UEFA side Atletico Madrid, Brazilian club Botafogo, and MLS outfit Seattle Sounders. With the tournament set to kick off in the United States on June 14, Enrique made it clear that his squad plans to be a serious contender.
European teams: The favorites on the global stage
UEFA clubs are heavily represented in the new format, with 12 teams from Europe qualifying—though notable absentees include FC Barcelona, Liverpool, and Manchester United. Despite the global mix, Enrique emphasized in a recent FIFA interview that European clubs still have the upper hand.
“The favorites, in principle, I believe will mainly be the European teams. I have no doubt that if South American players were still in Brazil, Argentina, or Uruguay, American teams—South American, Central American, even African—would have more chances,” he said. “But it’s clear that European teams have an advantage in that sense, because we have the best from Europe, but also the best from Africa, the Americas, and Asia,” Luis Enrique added.
Still, Enrique acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the game: “I can imagine that, logically, European teams are more likely to win this Club World Cup, but football is a sport that doesn’t care about fairness. I think European teams have more chances in that regard. Everyone who’s not European will be upset, but that’s my opinion.”