Spain Before the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Barca, coach Luis Enrique wanted to make history, helping PSG advance for the first time after losing in the first leg of the knockout stage.
When he led Barca in 2017, Enrique created a miracle when he met PSG in the Champions League round of 16. At that time, Barca lost 0-4 from the first leg in France, but won 5-1 at Camp Nou to advance with a total score of 6-5. It was the first time in Champions League history that a team losing by four goals in the first leg of the knockout stage could reverse the situation and win a ticket to the next round.
Now in charge at PSG, Enrique wants to continue making history against his former club. "PSG have never come from behind to go through after losing the first leg, but history will be made on Tuesday," the Spaniard said at a pre-match press conference. "After a defeat in such an important game, the next few days are difficult to recover mentally. But the good thing in football is that you have another match against the same opponent."
Coach Enrique at a press conference on April 15, before the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Barca at Montjuic Stadium, Barcelona today. Photo: psg.fr
In the first leg at the Parc des Princes on April 10, after Raphinha opened the scoring for Barca in the 37th minute, PSG took a 2-1 lead thanks to Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha early in the second half. However, defensive errors later on allowed Raphinha and Andreas Christensen to score, leading the home team to a 2-3 defeat. PSG were also unlucky when two shots hit the woodwork, belonging to Dembele and Bradley Barcola.
According to Enrique, the 2-3 result was unfair, and PSG deserved at least a draw. The 53-year-old coach also believes that not having to play in Ligue 1 last weekend will help PSG enter the game with more intensity.
"We will not hesitate away from home. That phrase does not exist and we believe we will turn the game around," the Spain coach added of the way he will play in the return leg today. "We will press high and force Barca to play long. I think goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen broke the record with 24 long passes in the first leg. I think the second leg will be similar with many goals."
Before the first leg, Enrique claimed he embodied Barca's style of football better than his counterpart Xavi. The current PSG coach reiterated this statement, adding that he did not mean to insult or belittle Xavi. "A defeat will not change my mind about that," Enrique said.
After missing the first leg through suspension, Achraf Hakimi is ready to return. The Moroccan defender is determined to beat Barca and establish a winning culture at PSG. "We came here to bring the semi-final ticket back to Paris," he said. "We came with a lot of desire, determined to change what happened in the first leg. We talked, motivated each other, united and aimed for victory."
Hong Duy
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