Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique declared his side the benchmark of world football after lifting the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, insisting PSG are now the team every opponent wants to beat.
The Ligue 1 champions clinched the title after edging past Flamengo 2-1 on penalties in Wednesday’s final at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, Qatar. The victory marked PSG’s sixth trophy of the 2025 calendar year and their first global title in the competition.
“Everyone Wants to Beat Us”
Speaking after the match, Enrique said PSG’s success has naturally turned them into the reference point for other teams.
“For a club with very clear ambitions like ours, you become the benchmark,” Enrique said. “You are the team that everyone wants to beat. What PSG achieved this year is unforgettable. Repeating a season like this is extremely difficult.”
The Spanish coach underlined that the club’s long-term vision remains rooted in balance, combining experience with emerging talent.
“Our idea is to maintain a positive mix of experienced players and young ones, to keep giving joy to our supporters and continue winning trophies,” he added.
A Historic Six-Trophy Year
PSG’s Intercontinental Cup success capped a remarkable year in which the Parisian side won the Trophée des Champions, Ligue 1 title, French Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup before adding the global trophy in Qatar.
Enrique confirmed that the same winning mentality would carry into the post-holiday period.
“It’s fantastic to win this title. Once again, we showed the quality we’ve displayed all year,” he said. “We have one French Cup match before Christmas, and then our objective remains the same — to keep winning and to play good football.”
Praise for Flamengo’s Season
While celebrating PSG’s achievement, Enrique was quick to acknowledge the challenge posed by Flamengo, particularly in a tightly contested final.
“The first half was incredible. We pressed well and controlled the game,” he said. “The second half was much more even and it became very difficult.”
He also congratulated Filipe Luís’ side for a highly successful season, during which Flamengo secured four major trophies — the Brazilian Serie A, Campeonato Carioca, Copa Libertadores and Supercopa do Brasil.
“They deserve credit not just for today’s match but for their entire season. They practically won everything and played excellent football,” Enrique said.
Hungry for More Success
Despite winning six titles in one year, Enrique made it clear PSG are not satisfied. He referenced the one competition that slipped away — the Club World Cup final loss to Chelsea.
“Six trophies — not bad,” he said with a smile. “But we have to keep going, keep winning and continue writing history.”
For PSG, the Intercontinental Cup victory may close an extraordinary year, but the ambition to dominate further remains firmly intact.
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