PSG president backs Luis Enrique to stay as Liverpool search for Slot's successor

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi backed Luis Enrique to remain at the club on Saturday, the same day Liverpool confirmed the departure of Arne Slot after two seasons at Anfield.

Enrique had just guided PSG to the Champions League title, beating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after the final finished 1-1 following extra time, when Al-Khelaifi was pressed on the Spaniard’s future. “I’m really confident, and it’s all about the project,” the PSG president said. “He is the best one for the project.”

Slot left Liverpool having guided the club to fifth place in the Premier League this season, securing Champions League qualification, but the club opted to make a managerial change ahead of the summer transfer window.

Enrique had been among the names linked with the vacancy, and pundit Danny Murphy urged Liverpool to pursue him. “Part of me still thinks Enrique — Liverpool might be able to nick him from PSG, especially if they beat Arsenal,” Murphy said before the final. Former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has since emerged as the early favourite for the role, with reports of concrete club interest cooling speculation around Enrique.

Al-Khelaifi’s comments, while stopping short of confirming a new contract, were emphatic in tone. “He’s very, very special, as a coach, human being, as a person, he is fantastic,” the PSG president said. “He’s the best coach in the world. He has done amazing with the team. With a young team, you know the story.”

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, reacting to Slot’s exit, suggested the club would not have made the decision without a successor already identified. “I would be very surprised if they made that decision and all of a sudden thought, ‘Well, who are we going to appoint next?’” Gerrard said.

With Al-Khelaifi publicly endorsing Enrique hours after the biggest night in PSG’s recent history, any move to Merseyside now appears unlikely — leaving Iraola as the frontrunner to take charge at Anfield.