“There is no team better than us,” says Luis Enrique ahead of PSG vs Bayern.
On the eve of the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final, Luis Enrique is laying out his ambitions with a PSG in full confidence. Facing Bayern Munich, the Spanish coach stresses the need to blend defensive discipline with offensive audacity in a showdown that looks set to be closely contested.
Paris Saint-Germain is moving at full speed, where many had imagined them to be running out of steam. Deprived of proper summer preparation after a grueling 2024-25 season, the Parisians have managed to defy the odds. Admittedly, the Coupe de France slipped away from them, but the capital club remains in the running for another league title and still dreams of a historic double in the UEFA Champions League.
In a press conference this Monday, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes, Luis Enrique outlined the contours of a showdown that he says will be as intense as it is balanced. For the former Spain national team coach, the key will lie in balance. Against a Bavarian side that is dangerous offensively, Paris will need to alternate between defensive discipline and attacking ambition in their play. “We must be able to defend well, but also attack with conviction,” he summarized, stressing the need not to renounce his team’s attacking identity.
As for the available players, the signs are green. With the exception of Ndjantou, the entire squad is fit. Good news for a manager who feels his team is carried by the unique energy of Europe’s big fixtures. “The Champions League has something special, an extra motivation”, he confided. That does not mean, however, that they should fall into overconfidence. While the fans’ enthusiasm bears witness to the club’s positive momentum, Luis Enrique remains cautious. At this stage of the competition, the margins are slim and every detail can decide a confrontation. “There is no favorite. We’ve already seen it against Chelsea FC or Liverpool FC”, he recalled.
Aware of the quality of the opponent, the Paris coach remains ambitious nonetheless. He highlights Bayern’s impressive consistency, while stating that his team has nothing to envy from the continent’s best sides, such as Arsenal FC, also cited among the season’s references. The stage is set: between two contenders for the pinnacle of European football, this semi-final promises to be undecided and spectacular. Paris, the defending champion, intends to embrace its status and pursue its continental dream.
