Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique believes no team in Europe is more motivated than his side as they prepare to face Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday, August 12, in Salzburg.
PSG will begin their new campaign with a chance to add another trophy to an extraordinary two-year period under the Spanish coach. The French giants have won nine trophies during that spell, including consecutive Champions League titles, and will now seek to defend the Super Cup crown they claimed against Tottenham Hotspur last year.
The clash with Villa will also provide PSG with an early opportunity to underline their status among Europe’s elite. While the Super Cup traditionally brings together the winners of the Champions League and Europa League, it also serves as the curtain-raiser for the new European football season, with the continent’s major competitions scheduled to begin in September.
For Enrique, however, past success carries little weight as he prepares his players for another demanding campaign.
Despite spending seven weeks away with his family during the summer, the 56-year-old admits he was never completely able to switch off from football. “You try to disconnect as much as possible, but you are always connected because everyone talks to you about the season,” Enrique said. “This sounds beautiful, but in the end it shows how a coach never disconnects.”
That constant connection reflects the mentality that has helped Enrique establish PSG as a dominant force in European football. Rather than being satisfied with the nine trophies already secured, he insists his focus remains on improvement and maintaining the hunger that has driven the club’s recent success.
Enrique Wants PSG to Maintain Their Winning Mentality
Enrique rejects the idea that his success comes from being a tactical genius, instead attributing it to his competitive nature and relentless desire to improve. “I’m not a genius and I don’t want to be,” he said. “I believe I was born to compete, because that’s where I feel most comfortable.”
That competitive instinct will be crucial as PSG attempt to achieve something that has only been accomplished once in the Champions League era. A third successive Champions League triumph would see the Parisians match the feat achieved by Real Madrid from 2016 to 2018.
Enrique knows the challenge is enormous, but believes PSG’s recent achievements have transformed the perception of the club.
“Right now, we have a unique challenge, something that is practically unprecedented in the history of European football. We can equal them. But I don’t think there is any team in Europe more motivated than us.”
Luis Enrique, PSG Manager
The coach also recognises that PSG can no longer operate under the radar. Having established themselves as genuine Champions League contenders, greater expectations now come with the territory.
“Two years ago, it was impossible to put us among the favourites. Now, no one would say that Paris Saint-Germain aren’t the favourites. That’s something we have earned, but if we’re going to maintain that position, we have to work even harder.”
Luis Enrique
Aston Villa Provide a Serious First Test
Before PSG can think about another Champions League campaign, however, they must overcome an Aston Villa side expected to provide a stern test in Salzburg.
Enrique has dismissed any suggestion that the Super Cup is merely a pre-season fixture, stressing the importance of starting the campaign with another piece of silverware. “There are no doubts in my mind that it’s a really important trophy and Villa will be really competitive,” he revealed.
The encounter will also bring Enrique face-to-face with fellow Spaniard Unai Emery, adding another layer of intrigue to a match that pits two accomplished Spanish coaches against each other.
Enrique believes the growing influence of Spanish coaches and football philosophy across Europe’s leading clubs reflects the strength of the country’s footballing culture. “I think that Spanish football is at the top of world football in every regard, be it players, coaches or directors,” the PSG gaffer said.
PSG will therefore enter Wednesday’s showdown with both history and ambition on their side. Having defeated Tottenham to win last year’s Super Cup, they will attempt to retain the trophy against another English opponent and set the tone for another season of high expectations.
For Enrique, the objective is straightforward. His team has already conquered much of what European football has to offer, but he refuses to allow that success to diminish their hunger. “It’ll be really hard to keep on winning, but we won’t leave anything to chance,” he said.
In Salzburg, PSG will get their first opportunity to prove that their motivation has survived the summer and that their appetite for trophies remains as strong as ever.
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