Luis Enrique Aims for Champions League Glory as He Targets Arsenal in Budapest Showdown

LUIS ENRIQUE is on the cusp of becoming a part of an elite club of coaches in the Champions League record books.

The 55-year-old following a .

Luis Enrique is on the cusp of joining an elite club of managers in the Champions League record books Credit: Getty Enrique has the chance to join the likes of Zinedine Zidane in winning back-to-back Champions League titles Credit: Getty – Contributor

‘s side will face off against following the English side’s own semi-final victory over .

The Gunners are in their first final since 2006, having lost to PSG in the semis last season.

But while eyes a Premier League and European glory double to end the club’s two-decade wait for a major league title – and six years for any trophy – Enrique is eyeing some personal history.

Should the Spaniard emerge victorious at the end of the May 30 final in Budapest, , he will become only the 11th manager in the competition’s history to win it back to back.

It is an accolade not even the most successful manager of all time in the tournament, five-time winner , nor three-time winner can boast on their CV.

The list contains two English managerial greats in the form of Bob Paisley and Brian Clough, who went back to back with in 1977 and 1978 and in 1979 and 1980 respectively.

is also on the list but stands alone even among his peers following his unprecedented hat-trick of titles as boss from 2016 to 2018.

Legendary bosses from across European are all on the list, including José Villalonga, Helenio Herrera, Ștefan Kovács, Dettmar Cramer and Arrigo Sacchi to name a few.

And if Enrique oversees another PSG win, he too will be on that exclusive list as an all-time great of the competition.

Not only that, but he would become only the fifth boss to win it three or more times alongside Ancelotti, Paisley, Zidane and Guardiola.

Enrique first tasted Champions League glory while manager of in 2015, with the attacking trio of , and spearheading the campaign.

Then last year he won it with PSG, proving his more team-oriented tactical approach was better than relying on individual brilliance from the likes of who had left the club the previous summer.

Iconic Liverpool boss Bob Paisley won European titles back to back in 1977 and 1978 Credit: Colorsport Brian Clough did the same with Nottingham Forest in 1979 and 1980 Credit: Getty – Contributor

Enrique believes PSG will be in for a “difficult” game against Arsenal, but insisted his team could win again.

He said: “I appreciate Mikelito Arteta!

“We used to be team-mates when we were kids, he did a great job at Arsenal. It will be a difficult, hard game but we believe in our football style…

“For us, it’s important to play our game.

“We don’t really think about who is going to be our opponent, we just prepare our game and give everything on the pitch.

“It will be difficult – it’s the Champions League final – and we just have to go and enjoy it.”