Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique delivered a stinging rebuttal to critics of Ligue 1 on Wednesday night, mocking long-standing jibes about the French top flight after guiding his side to the Champions League final.
Fresh from completing a clean sweep of Premier League opposition — Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City and most recently Arsenal — Enrique couldn’t resist firing back at those who have derided Ligue 1 as a so-called “farmers’ league.”
“It means a lot to reach the final. Everybody is dreaming of getting to the Champions League final,” said Enrique following PSG’s 2-1 victory over Arsenal on the night, which sealed a 3-1 aggregate win.
“Our first goal when we arrived to Paris was to make history, and we are on the right path. The league of farmers, no? We are the league of farmers. But sometimes it’s nice,” he added with a smirk.
Enrique’s side, packed with young talent and playing with a vibrant, aggressive style, have proven their doubters wrong on Europe’s biggest stage. Their tactical discipline and attacking verve have dismantled England’s finest, casting serious doubt on the Premier League’s claim to continental dominance.
“Now we are enjoying not only the result but also the compliments of everybody speaking about our team,” Enrique continued. “We are a young team but the mentality and the character and also the way we play football, it’s nice and it’s awesome. I have to congratulate my players because they are great.”
PSG’s run to the final has reinvigorated belief in Ligue 1’s quality, long overshadowed by its wealthier and more prestigious European counterparts. Under Enrique’s guidance, the Parisians have shed their reputation as perennial underachievers and are now just one win away from a historic European triumph.
After years of spending and heartbreak, PSG may finally be realising their ultimate dream — and doing so with swagger, steel, and the last laugh.