From being abandoned to reaching the finals together, Favian made Enrique admit his mistake

Sports Weekly All Media Special Reporter Wu Haoyu

Paris and Arsenal's second-leg battle in the Champions League semi-finals ended in the 27th minute. Paris's set ball was opened in Arsenal's penalty area. The Gunners' defense line was not far away. Favian Ruiz on the outside got the ball and broke off the defense. Then he shot with his left foot. The ball rushed straight into the dead corner of the goal like a shell. The Gunners goalkeeper Raya was also out of reach. Favian's goal came very timely. Before the goal occurred, Arsenal once suppressed Paris in a very embarrassing manner. If Donnarumma had not stopped left and right, the total score of the two rounds had already been equalized or even surpassed. Paris only had Kvaratschlia's long shot hit the post in the counterattack this time, but Favian stood up in time to give the Paris fans at home a reassurance.

Faweian's long shot was not only critical, but also very exciting. Whether it was the move to get rid of it or the subsequent volleyball shot, it was impeccable. Last year's European Cup, Favian, who represented the Spanish team, performed a similar goal performance. His first appearance in the group stage against Croatia. Spain drew blocks from three major midfielders, Modric, Kovacic and Brozovic, who were Croatia for the first time, and then made a wonderful long shot. The ball went straight into the net, facing Georgia in the eighth final. Favian once again scored a goal to help Spain overtake the score. This goal against Arsenal was the first time in his career in Favian scored in the Champions League, and this goal was no less exciting than his two goals in the European Cup last year.

Favian, Vitinia and Joao Neves, three midfielders from the Iberian Peninsula, eventually helped Paris pass the Arsenal level and advanced to the Champions League final for the second time in the team's history. Compared to Joao Neves, who contributed 6 steals throughout the game, strangled Arsenal's midfield offensive again and again, and Vitina, who staged a wonderful and missed penalty kick in the penalty area, and grabbed the scene. The low-key Favian did not have many highlights besides the wonderful goals, but he completed his job as a midfielder well in this game. The Spanish international always helped Paris control the rhythm, and the passing success rate was as high as 89%, allowing Paris, who led the score, to repeat the mistakes of being reversed by the sudden collapse of the Champions League in the previous few years. In the second half, Favian stepped forward into Arsenal's penalty area and almost helped Dembele, who came on as a substitute, completely locked in the victory. He succeeded in three fights on the defensive end, and contributed 6 clearances. Favian's stable performance finally helped Paris advance to the final steadily.

Just like during last year's European Cup, as the one with the least star-deepest among the Spanish three midfielders, Favian's performance was extremely stable and critical, and he could also contribute a lot of highlights, such as his two wonderful goals, such as his "famous scene" that he could easily get rid of in the match against Germany. In the end, the Spanish team won the championship as he wished, and Favian also formed the three midfielders of the official best lineup with his teammates Rodri and Ormo. Rodri was seriously injured after the European Cup, and Favian also became the most indispensable midfielder in the Spanish team. After defeating the Netherlands with the Spanish team in March this year and entering the European League semi-finals, Favian remained unbeaten in 37 consecutive official games for the Spanish team, which tied the best in Spanish team history. Favian has played 37 official games for Spain so far, which means that he has not suffered any failures in the Spanish national team. His steady performance has made Favian deeply appreciated by De La Fuente.

After being tempered by the European Cup, Favian has become the most powerful player under Enrique this season. In addition to his consistent performance, Favian has also followed Paris in its state after entering 2025. Before this game against Arsenal, Favian contributed 3 goals and 7 assists in 28 games in 2025, and his direct goals have tied the data representing Paris in the whole year of 2024, but he took 41 games last year to achieve this achievement. The outstanding state of Andalusian midfielder is also a guarantee for Paris to attack the championship in various competitions.

work together to help Paris reach the Champions League final, one step closer to the first Champions League in the team history. Favyan and Luis Enrique, the former Spanish national team coach, seem to be a match made in heaven, but in fact, the relationship between the two during their time in the Spanish national team was not as harmonious as they are now. Favian made his debut in the Spanish adult national team in 2019 and was selected for Enrique's European Cup roster in the summer of 2021. However, in that cup, Favian sat on the bench, and his cumulative playing time in the entire cup was not even 90 minutes. After that European Cup ended, Favian was always away from Enrique's national team roster. In the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Andalusian midfielder was eventually excluded from the 26ers roster.

There are rumors that Enrique abandoned Favian in the national team because of the "personal grudge" between the two. With Enrique taking over Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, the outside world speculated that Favian, who had just joined Paris for a year, might be forced to leave. In the early stages of the two's second cooperation, Favian's position in Paris was not stable, and he would give young player Zaire Emery as a substitute for most of the time. At the European Cup last summer, Favian won the championship with Spain as the main midfielder. During the European Cup, Favian admitted in an interview that he had no personal grudges with Enrique, and all the rumors were not true. "I also want to achieve more goals with Paris." Favian said.

Because he reached the final in the European Cup, Favian had to start from a substitute after returning to the club at the beginning of this season. In the Champions League match against Arsenal and Atletico Madrid this season, he could only play as a substitute.. After experiencing an excellent European Cup, French media and Paris fans were looking forward to Favian who can perform better in the club. As the season deepened, Favian gradually found his form. Since entering the Champions League knockout stage, Andalusian midfielder has been an unstoppable start in all games. He has also become one of the biggest contributors to Paris's reversal of the bleak start of the Champions League and winning the three top three in the Premier League to the finals. He formed a three-midfielder with both skill and hardness, with Neves and Vitinia, Favian is undoubtedly at the peak of his career.

In February this year, Enrique admitted at a press conference: "I made a mistake that I made when I didn't bring Favian to the World Cup, and I must take responsibility for this. He is one of the best midfielders under my command. We cannot forget that he is one of the official best team of the European Cup." Favian also said in an interview: "I have made a lot of progress under Luis Enrique, and I am very grateful to him." From being abandoned to letting the coach admit his mistake, to joining forces to launch an attack on the first Champions League in Paris in the history of the Paris team, Favian Ruiz and Luis Enrique have also staged a story of "harmony between generals and ministers".