Luis Enrique Praises Inter Milan's Sportsmanship After PSG's Champions League Final Victory

 Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique congratulated the entire Inter Milan squad for the way they carried themselves after losing the UEFA Champions League final, highlighting their composure and dignity in a difficult moment.

Paris Saint-Germain captured its first-ever UEFA Champions League title in dominant fashion, dismantling Inter Milan 5–0 in one of the most lopsided finals in tournament history. From start to finish, PSG showcased complete control, capping off a historic season under the leadership of head coach Luis Enrique, whose tactical brilliance played a pivotal role in the club’s European triumph.

Following the match, Luis Enrique used his postgame press conference to commend Inter Milan for the class and dignity they displayed during the trophy presentation. As PSG players celebrated their long-awaited victory, the Inter squad remained on the pitch, waiting respectfully to acknowledge their opponents’ success.

“I want to highlight something that’s rarely seen in finals,” Enrique said. “As we were receiving the trophy, I’d like to extend heartfelt praise to Inter Milan—their players, staff, everyone. Despite the pain of defeat, they stayed, showing deep respect. That’s something truly admirable.”

He added: “This is an important lesson for children watching soccer and for life in general. Winning is easy—losing with grace is harder. Many people only know how to win. Today, Inter showed the world how to lose with honor. I congratulate them for that.”

Luis Enrique’s touching tribute to his late daughter Xana

Beyond the pitch, Luis Enrique delivered an emotional tribute to his late daughter Xana, who passed away at the age of 9 in August 2019 after a brave battle with illness. “She’s always with us, with our family,” he said. “If she were here today, she’d be celebrating too.” The tribute underscored the emotional depth of PSG’s triumph, extending far beyond soccer.

Enrique has spoken candidly about the immense pain of losing Xana but continues to honor her memory with love and positivity. In a documentary for Amazon Prime, the PSG manager described the joy of the nine unforgettable years they shared. Even after his mother removed Xana’s photos from her home to cope with the grief, Enrique insisted on placing them back, saying her presence still brings light.

His bond with Xana was also reflected in a poignant moment from the 2015 Champions League Final, when he was coaching Barcelona. After winning the title, he and Xana walked to the center of the field and buried a Barça flag—a gesture now echoed in Paris. For this final, Enrique wore a black shirt featuring two symbolic drawings of him and Xana planting a PSG flag on the pitch.

Luis Enrique joins elite company with second career treble

With this Champions League victory, PSG completed a historic treble, having already secured the Ligue 1 title and the French Cup earlier in the season. They now join an exclusive list of just 11 clubs in European soccer history to win their domestic league, domestic cup, and the Champions League in the same campaign.

Luis Enrique becomes just the second manager ever to accomplish the treble twice. He first did it in 2015 with Barcelona, leading a star-studded team featuring Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suárez to European glory. The only other soccer coach to reach that milestone is fellow Spaniard Pep Guardiola, who won the treble with Barcelona in 2009 and repeated the feat with Manchester City in 2023.