Luis Enrique took aim at criticism of Ligue 1 after his Paris Saint-Germain side dumped Arsenal out of the Champions League to reach the final.
PSG earned a 2-1 victory over the Gunners in the second leg of their semi-final on Tuesday, sealing a 3-1 aggregate triumph.
The result also completed a dominant set of results for PSG against English opposition in this season’s competition.
The French champions had already knocked out Liverpool and Aston Villa in the last-16 and quarter-finals, before going on to end English representation by eliminating Arsenal.
PSG also earned a crucial victory late in the league phase of the competition against Man City, a result that contributed to Pep Guardiola’s side crashing out early.
When questioned about his side’s impressive record against English opposition, Luis Enrique quipped about the jibes of Ligue 1 being a ‘farmers league’, with critics suggesting the French top flight lacks competitiveness and depth.
PSG boss Luis Enrique took aim at Ligue 1’s ‘farmers league’ label after eliminating Arsenal
The French champions have beaten all four English sides in the Champions League this season
‘The league of farmers, no? We are the league of farmers,’ Luis Enrique joked to TNT Sports.
‘It’s nice. Now we are enjoying not only the results but also the compliments of everybody speaking about our team.
‘We are a young team but the mentality and character, and also how we play football, I think is nice.
‘I also have to congratulate my players because they are great.’
PSG earned a 2-1 victory on the night, with Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi scoring to give the French champions a three goal lead in the tie after a 1-0 first leg win.
Bukayo Saka pulled a goal back for Arsenal late on, but Mikel Arteta’s side were unable to mount of a late fightback, with their hopes of silverware this season coming to an end.
PSG will now aim to win the Champions League for the first time later this month against Italian giants Inter Milan.
Luis Enrique’s side could complete a Treble having already sealed the domestic title and progressed to the French Cup final against Reims.
PSG earned victories over Liverpool and Aston Villa in the last-16 and the quarter-finals
The French champions pushed Man City towards elimination with a win in the league phase
Fabian scored the opener for PSG after Arsenal had enjoyed a strong start to the match
Achraf Hakimi scored with a powerful effort to put PSG 3-0 ahead on aggregate
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‘It’s going to be tough, but I think they have the same feeling,’ the PSG boss responded when asked about the Champions League final.
‘It’s going to be an interesting final, very difficult for both teams, but it’s a special moment for all of us, for them also
‘It is their second final in three years, which means they are a great team, but we have time to analyse Inter.
‘Now it’s time to celebrate, to enjoy and have some rest.’
PSG will be competing in their second Champions League final, having lost to Bayern Munich back in 2020.
They will be looking to become just the second French side to win the competition after Marseille in 1993.
