Irregular but Magical”: Luis Enrique Reflects on PSG’s Super Cup Win
In a stunning finale at Udine’s Stadio Friuli, Paris Saint-Germain staged one of the most memorable comebacks in recent memory. Trailing 2-0 with just minutes left, they scored twice in the final moments of regulation time to force penalties—and proceeded to win the 2025 UEFA Super Cup. But even as they lifted the trophy, manager Luis Enrique didn’t mince words: he didn’t feel his team deserved the victory. “For 80 minutes, we didn’t deserve that,” he said candidly. “I think Tottenham were in form, they’d been training for six weeks, and they played a great match. We’d only trained for six days. But sometimes football is unfair—and we were very lucky in the last 10 minutes.”
Fortune Favors the Persistent
With the score 2-0 in Tottenham’s favor deep into the match, it looked like a familiar fate for PSG—until dynamic substitutions changed everything. First, Lee Kang-in unleashed a fierce strike from outside the box to halve the deficit in the 85th minute. Then, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Gonçalo Ramos rose to head home an equalizer from a Dembélé cross. The match went straight to a shoot-out where Nuno Mendes sealed the win with the clinching penalty.
Of note, Ousmane Dembélé was named Man of the Match—not for a goal, but for the assist that sparked the turnaround and his overall influence on the game.
Tottenham’s Rise and Sudden Fall
Under new boss Thomas Frank, Tottenham produced a disciplined and tactically astute performance throughout the night. They dominated the first 75–80 minutes, with set-piece goals from Micky van de Ven and captain Cristian Romero. It was a “special operation” that had worked almost perfectly—that is, until fatigue and late-game pressure crept in, and the match unraveled. “The operation succeeded but the patient died,” Frank remarked with characteristic self-deprecating wit.
Still, the performance offered reason for optimism. Spurs demonstrated resilience, structure, and identity—a promising sign for Frank’s tenure despite the heartbreaking finish.
Debut Drama: Chevalier vs. Donnarumma
Perhaps the most talked-about decision was PSG’s starting goalkeeper choice. Lucas Chevalier, who had just arrived from Lille, was preferred over star keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. The choice drew criticism, especially when Chevalier conceded both Tottenham goals: tipping a shot onto the bar that resulted in Van de Ven’s finish, and failing to stop Romero’s header in the second half.
Yet redemption arrived in dramatic form. During penalties, Chevalier made a crucial save from Van de Ven—the first of two misses for Spurs. In the end, he emerged as PSG’s unlikely hero. Luis Enrique praised his resolve and temperament, saying that such personality is vital at a club like PSG.
A Blow to Tottenham, But Not Their Spirit
The anguish didn't end on the pitch. After the match, winger Mathys Tel became the target of racial abuse online following his missed penalty. Tottenham swiftly condemned the abuse, calling it cowardly and pledging to cooperate with authorities to combat such behavior.
Historical Stakes and Context
This match marked the 50th UEFA Super Cup, played on August 13, 2025. PSG’s win was historic—they became the first French club ever to claim the title.
PSG's campaign in 2025 has been nothing short of extraordinary. Coming off a treble-winning season and a strong run at the Club World Cup, they continue to stack silverware—even if tonight’s win felt far from straightforward.
Final Takeaway
PSG’s Super Cup victory will be remembered for its chaos, late heroics, and questionable grounding in merit. Luis Enrique’s honesty about undeserved fortune paints a picture of a club that never gave up—even when outplayed. For Tottenham and Thomas Frank, the match reinforced belief and tactical solidity—albeit with painful lessons on resilience and management under pressure. In football, sometimes the result doesn't reflect reality—but often, resilience still prevails.
