PSG boss Luis Enrique slams Mikel Arteta despite friendship with Arsenal manager

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has slammed claims from Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal camp that the Gunners were the better side over two legs against the Ligue 1 giants.

The French outfit won the first leg at the Emirates Stadium last week 1-0 and followed up with a 2-1 victory in front of home support at the Parc des Princes. That aggregate scoreline of 3-1 saw PSG book a place in the final against Inter Milan with Enrique’s men not losing at any point in the tie against the Gunners.

Arsenal started the match in Paris the stronger, putting PSG under pressure with a high press. The London side had chances but were unable to capitalise before Fabian Ruiz scored against the run of play in the first half. Achraf Hakimi added a second after the break before a Bukayo Saka goal offered some small hope of salvation in the latter stages.

Mikel Arteta adamant Arsenal better team against PSG

Speaking after the game, Arteta praised his Arsenal team and was adamant that his men were the better team over the two legs. Asked if the better team lost the match, Arteta told TNT Sports: "I think so, yes. Especially for 160 minutes.

"I'm saying that and they're saying that because they [PSG's bench] just told me that. The assessment I'll make when I'm a little bit cooler but the feeling I get from their bench was that we were much better than them.

"Over the two legs the best player on the pitch was their goalkeeper, he's made a difference in the tie. We were very close much closer than the results showed but unfortunately we are out. I'm so proud. How we started and handled the pressure - after 20 minutes we should be 3-0 up. But there is something extra in this competition to go your way and it didn't."

Luis Enrique: ‘I don’t agree at all.’

However, Arteta’s compatriot and opposite number Enrique did not agree with those words when told of the Arsenal boss’ claim. The PSG manager admitted that Arteta is a ‘great friend’ but took no time to rubbish the idea that Arsenal were the better team over the two legs.

In his post-match press conference, Enrique said: "I don't agree at all. Mikel Arteta is a great friend but I don't agree at all. I think they played in a clever way today and they got the match to the right moment for them because they played in the way they wanted and they loved to play. But I think in the two legs we scored more goals than them and in football that is the most important thing."

Enrique did have praise for goalkeeper Donnarumma, whose heroics Arteta has used of evidence that his side were superior. The PSG boss said: “He was fantastic. Just like in the first leg. Our team is built to attack and defend far from our goal. It’s crucial to have a goalkeeper like him. Especially on set pieces, he was brilliant. Our goal is to make history, and to do that, we must win the Champions League.”

In other news, Arsenal star who gifted PSG victory must be axed by Andrea Berta - opinion.