Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique openly admitted that Tottenham Hotspur were the side more deserving of the UEFA Super Cup trophy, even though his team mounted a dramatic comeback from two goals down to snatch victory on penalties.

The clash at Udinese’s Stadio Friuli was Thomas Frank’s first competitive match in charge of Spurs, and it looked set to be a dream debut for the Danish coach. Goals from Micky van de Ven in the first half and newly appointed captain Cristian Romero shortly after the restart had the Champions League holders on the ropes, as the North London side threatened to pull off a stunning upset.

Despite PSG enjoying the vast majority of possession throughout the match, they struggled to find a breakthrough for most of the evening. Tottenham’s defensive shape and discipline frustrated the French champions, but the pressure finally told late on. In the 85th minute, Lee Kang-in produced a thunderous strike beyond Guglielmo Vicario to breathe life into PSG’s hopes.

With the clock ticking down, Spurs were desperately trying to hold on for what would have been a famous win. However, deep into stoppage time, PSG struck again. Ousmane Dembele whipped in a pinpoint cross from the right, and Goncalo Ramos rose highest to nod home the equaliser in the fourth minute of injury time, breaking Tottenham hearts and forcing a penalty shootout.

The spot-kick drama began with PSG’s Vitinha missing their opening effort, offering Spurs the advantage. Yet fortune quickly turned. PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, who had only recently joined the club from Lille, produced a vital save to deny Van de Ven. Moments later, Mathys Tel dragged his effort wide, placing PSG on the brink of glory. The decisive moment came when Nuno Mendes confidently converted the winning penalty, sparking wild celebrations among PSG’s travelling supporters.

The victory sealed PSG’s fifth trophy of 2025, capping a glittering period in which they lifted the Ligue 1 title, the French Cup, the Trophée des Champions, and, most significantly, their maiden Champions League crown back in May.

Speaking to TNT Sports’ Jules Breach after the match, Enrique was refreshingly candid about how the game unfolded:

“Do you think we deserved that? For 80 minutes, we didn’t deserve it. Tottenham deserved to win because they were clearly in form, you could feel they had been preparing for six weeks. They played an excellent match, and we’ve only been training for six days. But football can be unfair sometimes.”

The Spaniard acknowledged that his players, still recovering from a long and gruelling campaign, were likely fatigued. The team’s season had extended into the summer with their Club World Cup final defeat to Chelsea barely a month prior, leaving little time for rest or preparation.

“From the first minute, you could see the lack of sharpness,” Enrique continued. “There were so many imprecise passes, and it’s difficult to play our style without proper training time. Honestly, it felt like a miracle.”

The PSG boss, however, was quick to praise his squad’s mentality, noting that their belief never wavered:

“My players had faith until the last minute, just like our supporters. Football is unpredictable, and in that sense, we were very lucky.”

One player who earned Enrique’s special praise was Lucas Chevalier. The 23-year-old goalkeeper, making one of his first appearances for the club, proved to be the hero in the shootout.

“He’s got a big personality, which you need at a club like PSG where the pressure is immense. I’m very happy for him because he showed that character. And credit as well to the players who came off the bench. They all want to start, but they made a massive difference tonight.”

For Tottenham, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow after such a strong and organised performance. Yet their showing against one of Europe’s most dominant sides will offer Thomas Frank encouragement as he looks to rebuild a squad that appears hungry, competitive, and capable of going toe-to-toe with the very best.

As for PSG, the night was another reminder of their ability to dig deep when the odds seem stacked against them — a quality that has helped turn them into serial winners over the past year.