The Champions League holders face Aston Villa in Salzburg with the Spanish coach determined to maintain Paris Saint-Germain’s winning momentum
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique said on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, that the European champions are determined to “win everything” this season as PSG prepare to face Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup final in Salzburg on Wednesday.
Also read: PSG dominate UEFA Champions League team of the season
Luis Enrique’s side enter the contest after a remarkable 2025-26 campaign in which Paris Saint-Germain retained the Champions League and Ligue 1 titles while also lifting the UEFA Super Cup, French Champions’ Trophy and FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
The Spanish coach knows another trophy is within reach almost immediately, but he has warned his players that their ambitions must be matched by their performance on the pitch.
“We have to show what our level is and that has to be shown on the pitch,” Luis Enrique told reporters.
“We want to win everything and, if you look at history, it’s hard to win all the time. But that’s what we want to aim for.”
PSG will begin their latest European campaign against Aston Villa, who secured the Europa League title last season and now have an opportunity to claim a major continental trophy against the reigning Champions League winners.
Paris have already demonstrated their ability to overcome English opposition.
The French champions defeated Villa in a dramatic Champions League quarter-final during the 2024-25 campaign, adding another chapter to their increasingly strong record against Premier League clubs.
Luis Enrique, however, expects a different challenge this time.
“It’s difficult to ascertain how they’ll be after seeing only a few pre-season games,” he said of Unai Emery’s team.
“We’ll see what sort of game it will be and what condition both sides will be in.”
The coach also stressed that PSG’s recent success should not create complacency.
“Each opponent we’ve faced over the last few years have shown how dangerous they can be,” he said.
“We’re happy about how we were able to play. Our aim is to prove how unpredictable we can be.”
That unpredictability was one of PSG’s defining qualities during their extraordinary previous campaign, when the club combined attacking flair with a more controlled approach under Luis Enrique.
The UEFA Super Cup represents the first opportunity for the squad to demonstrate that the hunger behind last season’s historic run remains intact.
PSG have travelled to Austria with a strong squad, including winger Bradley Barcola, whose future has attracted considerable transfer speculation amid reported interest from Liverpool.
His presence underlines the depth available to Luis Enrique as he begins another demanding season across domestic and European competitions.
One notable absentee is Lucas Digne, who recently returned to PSG after leaving Aston Villa. The France international made his move only two days before the Super Cup, but he will not feature against his former club.
PSG captain Marquinhos, who played alongside Digne during the defender’s first spell at the Parc des Princes between 2013 and 2016, welcomed his return.
“We shared a big hug yesterday. He congratulated me on all that I’ve accomplished at the club and I did the same to him,” Marquinhos said.
“He’s had a long journey back, but I’m so happy he’s back. I’m really happy he’s here. He’s a good guy and a good friend.”
PSG won last year’s Super Cup after overcoming Tottenham Hotspur in a penalty shoot-out, giving the club an early indication of the competitive demands that come with defending their European crown.
This year’s meeting with Villa offers a different test, with Emery’s side arriving as Europa League winners and carrying the confidence of having already faced PSG in a high-stakes Champions League tie.
For Luis Enrique, the occasion is about more than adding another medal to an already extraordinary collection.
PSG’s success has raised expectations around the club, and the coach appears keen to embrace rather than avoid them.
The challenge now is to turn that ambition into another commanding performance and begin a new campaign in the same manner the previous one ended: with Paris Saint-Germain competing for major honours.
Also read: PSG edge Arsenal to win historic Champions League
With the European champions seeking another trophy and Villa eager to announce themselves on the continental stage, Wednesday’s final promises an intriguing early test of how both teams have evolved since their last competitive campaigns.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.





















