PSG's Growth Under Luis Enrique Prepares Them For Arsenal Showdown In Champions League

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Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have shown remarkable growth this season, according to their coach Luis Enrique. On Wednesday, they face Arsenal in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, holding a 1-0 lead from the first match. Despite losing Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid last year, PSG clinched the Ligue 1 title and set a club record by going 30 games unbeaten.

Ousmane Dembele scored the crucial goal at Emirates Stadium last week. He is fit to play at Parc des Princes after recovering from an injury. "He has been training with the squad for two days so he is available for tomorrow," Luis Enrique confirmed. Dembele has netted 33 goals this season, including eight in the Champions League.

PSG are Europe's second-highest scoring team in top leagues this season, with 135 goals. Only Barcelona surpasses them with 160 goals. Luis Enrique expressed satisfaction with his team's progress, stating, "This season we've grown so much as a team." He emphasised readiness for any scenario and maintaining focus throughout matches.

According to Opta's supercomputer, PSG have an 80% chance of reaching the Champions League final. They are also favourites to win the tournament, with a 42% probability. Achraf Hakimi highlighted the importance of utilising home advantage against Arsenal. "The key is to show our personality with and without the ball and press high," Hakimi said.

PSG's only Champions League final appearance ended in defeat against Bayern Munich in 2020. Arsenal's sole final was in 2006 when they lost to Barcelona in Paris. Reflecting on these past experiences, Luis Enrique aims for continuous improvement in future campaigns.

"We will have to be as good as last week," said Luis Enrique, acknowledging expectations for a similar game but promising it will be different. The team's target is ongoing development over the coming years.

Dembele's performance this season is noteworthy; only Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored more goals for PSG in a single Champions League campaign (10 in 2013-14). This highlights Dembele's significant contribution to PSG's success this term.

The upcoming match against Arsenal presents an opportunity for PSG to demonstrate their growth and strategic prowess under Luis Enrique's guidance. With strong performances from key players like Dembele and Hakimi, PSG aim to secure their place in the Champions League final.