Luis Enrique mocks ‘farmers league’ jibe as PSG knock out all English sides in the Champions League

“I think they are getting the second final in three years, which means they are a great team, but we have time to analyse Inter. Now it is time to celebrate.”

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice speaking to TNT Sports: “I thought we were dominant today, if we score one of them chances in the first 15-20 mins then the game chances. Two mistakes from us and two goals for them. We give it everything, it wasn’t meant to be. You’re in our you’re out in this competition. Over the two legs we could’ve scored more goals but Donnarumma has been unbelievable and it wasn’t meant to be.

“Sometimes you have to lose a few in order to win and overcome setbacks to grow as a player and as a group. We’re going through that at the moment in terms of the league and Champions League – we’ve been here back-to-back seasons – we’re growing as a team but we need to keep pushing and believing. We’re absolutely gutted but this doesn’t define us for sure. We’ll be stronger with our players back who have been out for a long time.”

On injuries: “It’s tough. We’ve done the whole season without five or six of our best players so to do what we’ve done is unbelievable. We’ve given it everything, the whole squad, everyone flying with us and everyone believed. You could see that we believed it. On another night we maybe score two or three, that first 20 minutes where they score and we don’t take our chances is a kick in the teeth. We’ll be back, three games left, it’s been a long season but we keep pushing because we want to win and do the best we can.”

On winning a trophy: “We’re all desperate for it. That’s why we play football, we want to win trophies, we want to be at the pinnacle, winning stuff. For whatever reason it hasn’t been meant to be. We’ve been really close and it’s not good enough. Arsenal deserve to be pushing for trophies and winning things but there’s not a lot more we can be doing. A lot of superstars have suffered defeats to come out on top. It hurts, you see the boys, the manager. We wanted to be in Munich but this doesn’t define us and we’ll be back.”

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard speaking to TNT Sports:

“We gave it a proper go. We started the game really well. We were on the front foot, had the momentum, a few big chances but in the end it wasn’t enough. Between the boxes we did well inside the two over the two games we weren’t good enough. Credit to their goalkeeper who made amazing saves. It wasn’t enough and that’s painful.

“In the boxes, especially today what we did with the ball between the boxes we dominated the ball and took the control of the game from the start. We were not strong enough in the boxes and that’s where we lost it.

“It’s painful, we wanted to do the big thing, a big goal in the league and the Champions League. Massive disappointment but we have to stay strong and together. Take the lessons, take the pain and use it to come back stronger.

“We have to learn from this. We did a lot of good things but it’s not enough. In front of goal is where games are decided and that’s where we have to be sharper. We have to use this pain in a good way.”

“Sometimes in life you have to go through these small losses in order to win big”

While disappointed with the loss Declan Rice and the Arsenal team are already looking forward to raise their game even further 👏

🎙@Becky_Ives_ | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/8lT1jWUQfO

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2025

Here’s how fans reacted as Luis Enrique mocks the ‘farmers league’ jibe as PSG knock out all English sides in the Champions League and Arteta claims his side were the best team in the competition…

@PIreland33: I like Enrique , after what hes been through regards his daughter i hope he goes on to win it 👏

@NickHarden92: Sensational interview this. Rocked up and just dismissed our entire league after the stick he’s got. Some side PSG, they’ve become likeable and a good watch. Final should be a cracker.

@CouchNish: After everything Enrique has been through, he had a lifetime pass from me. I just can’t dislike him. Fantastic manager and wish him all the success he can get.

@lecrin: Nice one, Luis. The so called greatest league in the world not represented in the Champions League final. But you might see the current 15th & 16th places clubs play each other in a lesser final.

@tonyscornucopia: Football rivalries aside, who can’t be pleased for Enrique after the terrible sadness & pain he & his family have dealt with in recent yrs. I hope they win this to bring him some much deserved happiness in his life. A man of dignity with a sense of humour & u’standing of irony!

@AnthonyAshton1: XG nonces on here tried to tell people his football was dull. Hasn’t looked very dull to me. They have one helluva side

@ToffeeDaft: PSG, Inter & Barca have shown this year how poor the PL has been for a good few years now. Strength, control & time wasting is out……pace, fun & skill is in.

@PhilR2025: Fantastic. Add repulsive levels of arrogance to the long list of reasons why the Premier League is such a shit product these days.

@MischievousManc: What a shithouse 😂😂. Love to see it. Don’t think he gets the credit he deserves sometimes. One of the best managers of his generation

@AdamP1242: I like Arsenal as a club but Mikel Arteta is such a dislikable manager in his interviews

@MagpieMediaX: “The context of our situation – the amount of injuries we have arriving here, we’re probably in the worst state you can arrive in as a team…” Arsenal were missing just four players tonight, and only two of those – Gabriel & Havertz – can be classed as regular starters. I’d now like to take you back to last season, when #NUFC rocked up at the Parc des Princes on a similarly massive Champions League night with: – No Burn, no Botman, no Tonali, no Anderson, no Longstaff, no Willock, no Murphy, no Barnes and no Wilson. – 17-year old rookie Lewis Miley starting in the heart of their midfield. – A substitutes bench consisting of two goalkeepers and the following: Paul Dummett – who’s now on the verge of retirement at freshly relegated League Two club Carlisle United… James Huntley – who’s currently out on loan at National League North side Spennymoor Town… Michael Ndiweni – who now plays part time football for NINTH tier side Newcastle Blue Star and is part of “FC Rules The World” in the BALLER LEAGUE! Yes, PSG are better now than they were just over a year ago, but their starting XI that night still fielded Donnarumma, Hakimi, Hernandez, Ruiz and Dembele – five players who helped dispatch your team this evening. Oh, and an in-form Kylian Mbappe. Which one of us avoided defeat in their game against the French champions? We did. You didn’t, Mikel – you LOST – twice, in fact. There’s some f*cking context for you. 👍🏼

@MikeKearney1: I’ve got some eyes he can borrow here if he needs like

@lovespud83: If it wasn’t for the entertainment value and continued embarrassment to Arsenal, I’d say someone should stop Arteta talking to the media. Spouting delusional drivel on the regular.

@Dylan_Hamilton: This man is genuinely delusional. On the hot seat Mikel, win one of the big 2 next year or it’s over lad.

@JayVtid: “I don’t think there’s been a better team in the competition” Sorry, what? All I hear are excuses. Maybe you’re just not good enough to get them over the line.

@markchoake: This bloke man!!! This is the reason he will not make a top manager! The way he gets away with antics on the touch line is incredible he’s unbearable and delusional! There is always excuses! #AFC #PSGARS