D-Day! The Champions League resumes its rights this Tuesday with the first day of the league phase. Paris Saint-Germain, reigning European champion and still in search of a historic treble, will however have to wait until Wednesday to enter the fray. The Parisians will host Slovan Bratislava at 9 p.m. at the Parc des Princes, with the ambition of ideally launching their European campaign.
On the eve of this meeting, Luis Enrique appeared at a press conference to discuss this meeting which seems affordable on paper. But the Spanish coach refuses to fall into the easy trap. “It’s the toughest competition. How many teams can win? Six, eight, five. The difference is very small. We are looking to get off to a very good start. We are going to play a seemingly easy match but there is no easy match. You have to stay focused”launched the Parisian technician, cited by RMC.
Luis Enrique also expects more from his team, particularly in terms of efficiency and concentration. “I’m calm but we have to improve, stay more concentrated. Football is not a fair sport with matches where you deserve more than the opponent and the result doesn’t happen. We must improve our efficiency and our ability to stay focused”he continued.
“The past is the past”
The PSG coach does not hide his ambition to finish among the top eight in order to avoid the play-offs: “I put pressure on all the time. I would like to be in the top eight and avoid the play-offs. But with this type of opponent, you will lose points and it will be difficult to qualify, not only in the top 8 but also in the 24.”
A speech which comes as PSG is going through a more complicated period in the championship. The Parisians remain in four matches without a victory and have just lost at the Parc des Princes against Monaco (1-2), during the third day of Ligue 1. For Luis Enrique, however, there is no question of taking refuge behind the successes of last season. “The past is the past, you have to renew your driving license every year. Everyone is excited to play against us. We have to accept it and get out of our comfort zone”he explained. The message is therefore clear: PSG must already reinvent itself.
