One thing's for sure, Enrique's PSG are different now - how far that carries them remains to be seen

Luis Enrique has recreated PSG in his own hard-working humble image with the sole aim of rewarding the French capital with this season’s Champions League trophy.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique gestures on the touchline. Pic: Adam Davy/PA Wire.

Driving along the tranquil tree-lined roads up to Paris Saint-Germain’s €350m training campus in the Poissy region of Paris, it is easy to see why Luis Enrique cycles into training most days. 

The rugged Spanish coach looks like he has lived a life longer than his 54 years, and the 9K trip gives him time to get his mind and body in gear for the stresses of being in charge of one of the biggest and most demanding football clubs in the world.

The Qatari-owned club could afford him a fleet of chauffeur-driven limousines, but he has recreated PSG in his own hard-working humble image with the sole aim of rewarding the French capital with this season’s Champions League trophy.

The former Barcelona legend and Spain national coach, a marathon runner and keen surfer too, won the domestic treble and reached the last four in Europe’s elite competition in his first season in charge and only Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal stand in his way of reaching the final in year two of his project.

Arsenal are held dear by many French football fans after the way their fellow countryman Arsene Wenger, transformed English football in his two decades in charge of the north London club. 

He also fostered World Cup winners for them such as Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Olivier Giroud and now the club has upscaled William Saliba for them too.

Outside of the French capital, they are less keen on PSG, a club founded a few months after Enrique was born in 1970, deemed to be a bit too successful and rich for their own good. 

Inside Paris, pretty much everyone, with the possible exception of newly promoted Paris FC fans, wants them to beat Arsenal, whatever Francopile affiliations Arteta’s side might have.

The atmosphere inside their historic Parc des Princes stadium tonight as PSG look to defend and build on last week’s 1-0 first leg lead from London, is possibly going to be only matched by the ticketless tens of thousands outside the ground who will be cheering them on just as loudly.

“It will be an insane atmosphere,” claimed their highly-rated Moroccan full-back Achraf Hakimi. “We know what is at stake and what is expected of us but we are calm as we have been here in semi-finals before. We are not overconfident and respect Arsenal as one of the best teams in Europe, but we have strength too.

“The expectation from all of Paris is a positive pressure as this is the type of game you want to play in as a kid - we will not change the way we play if we are winning or losing on the night.” 

Hakimi was touted as one of PSG’s dangermen ahead of the first leg but was largely kept quiet by Arsenal teenage sensation Myles Lewis-Skelly. 

Fortunately, for the French, they have other stars such as goalscorer Ousmane Dembele, fit again after a hamstring scare, and Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

People say this latest version of the Parisians is more brain than bling following the Messi, Neymar, Mbappe era, but Dembele and Kvaratskhelia are both €100m-plus players. Maybe without the celebrity baggage, though.

And that is partly why the locals here are quietly expectant, without being too cocky. They respect Arsenal’s history and discuss the likes of forward Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, he of the two free-kick quarter-final goals against Real Madrid in hushed tones. 

Saliba too, of course, is highly revered. They are relieved Kai Havertz and the Gabriels – Jesus and Maghalaes – are injured, but have experienced too much heartache in the quest for this trophy to celebrate too soon. 

They wish they had drawn Real Madrid at this stage as they fear Arsenal’s less chaotic approach and the coaching acumen of their former midfielder Arteta more. 

They have beaten Premier League opponents Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa already but could Arsenal be one challenge too many?

Back to Enrique, almost zen-like in his pre-match press conference out in Poissy. Still relatively obsessed with the finer arts of the game, he keeps football in perspective having lost his nine-year-old daughter to cancer six years ago and that is possibly why he will take another PSG exit in his stride, should it come to be.

The Parisians face their fourth semi-final in six seasons tonight in the knowledge they have famously faltered when favoured to win in the past. 

The PSG fans will still demand nothing but victory. Their manager, however, is prepared for all outcomes the day before his 55th birthday.

He explained: “Borussia Dortmund spoiled it when they beat us at the same date last year, but I’m old enough to not to think too much about such days. This time we have an opportunity to have a great day – I will accept the outcome, whatever happens.”