PSG v Bayern Munich: Luis Enrique opens up before the semi-final | OneFootball

Tuesday, in the first leg of the 2025-2026 Champions League semi-final (return leg on May 6), Paris Saint-Germain will face Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes (kick-off at 9 p.m., broadcast on Canal+). On the eve of this match, Paris coach Luis Enrique answered several questions at a press conference.

Luis Enrique: “It’s an attractive match for everyone and for the teams.”

Is this the promise of a semi-final for the attackers?

No, quite the opposite. If both teams attack very well, you also have to know how to defend well. That will be a key. You have to attack well and defend well. It’s an attractive match for everyone and for the teams, who are having a very good season.

PSG are peaking at the end of the season. How much of that was planned at the start of the season?

These are very simple things. We want to reach the final stage of the season in the best possible condition. We’re in the semi-final, all the players are ready, except Quentin Ndjantou. That’s the magic of the Champions League, which gives a special energy, everyone wants to play. The rest, whether we arrive in better or worse shape, is not by chance. We’re very happy to be arriving at this point in a good moment.

Luis Enrique: “We deserve to be here, we are confident, but we know how difficult Bayern are.”

The supporters are confident. Do you think nothing can happen to PSG?

The supporters show the confidence the team gives them, and that’s positive. But as professionals, I’ll repeat myself, we don’t see any favorite. There was no favorite against Chelsea or Liverpool. You have to be ready for every scenario. We deserve to be here, we are confident, but we know how difficult Bayern are.

Three semi-finals in a row — is PSG now one of Europe’s big clubs?

That depends on you, it’s up to you to say. It’s a pleasure, and I think it’s deserved. In the first year against Dortmund, we hit the posts, we did everything we could, but we lost. We’re happy with what we’ve done, but to stay here for a long time, you have to be very ambitious. We are. We want to go a little bit further.

Luis Enrique: “It’s an exciting semi-final.”

The number one objective is to reach the final, and the second is that this is the clash between the two strongest teams. Do you feel that special dimension?

It’s not just the attacking stats, defensively too. Arsenal have also done a great job. But in terms of consistency, Bayern are a little above us, they’ve only lost 2 matches. But in what we show as a team, there is no one better than us.

I said it after the end of the league phase and I’ll say it again now. We respect every team, like Liverpool, Chelsea and Bayern Munich. There are many top-level players, and a coach who builds a real team. It’s an exciting semi-final.

There is uncertainty in midfield, how do you choose?

It will be a lottery, everyone is ready and I’ll be very happy (smile). I’ll put the best players in to start the match, but be careful, to qualify we’ll need everyone. In that sense, we are more than ready.

Luis Enrique: “What do you think? Do you think we won the Champions League with Mendes and Hakimi in defense?”

Can Bayern’s very attacking wingers change the way the full-backs play?

What do you think? Do you think we won the Champions League with Mendes and Hakimi in defense? They have to defend, but to win you have to attack as much as possible. We’re not going to negotiate, we want to win the first match and the second.

Do you change your team talks for the semi-final?

Today, it’s Rafaël Pol, it depends on what we are looking for. When you play a Champions League semi-final, there is no need for the coach, I can go home (smile). They are all ready, they know what they have to do. You need a coach to calm things down, especially not to motivate or fire things up. You have to stay calm.

What do you make of Vincent Kompany and Michael Olise?

I like all Bayern players, not just Olise. Individually, it’s the very highest level. As a team, they have shown their level. Kompany is a top-level coach, he showed that in England too. You can see it at Bayern, in how difficult they are to play against. It’s a team I like to watch, one that attacks and scores. I like all coaches, but especially attacking coaches. He is one of them.

Luis Enrique: “Making history was one thing, now we are hungry.”

What are the keys to winning the Champions League again? What is different about your team?

The first one was a relief, now it’s another story, it’s motivation. Making history was one thing, now we are hungry. We’re excited, we’re enthusiastic. We can’t wait to play tomorrow.

Marquinhos has only played 12 Ligue 1 matches, could this be his 13th in the Champions League? Why?

Because we need all the players to be competitive in every competition. You have to know how to manage the minute load. We monitor every case. He is a top-level player, with a lot of experience. He is very important for us, we want the best version of Marquinhos for the most important matches. That’s clear for us. We’ve appreciated it, and I think he has too.

Kvaratskhelia: “You want to approach these matches individually, but that’s a mistake.”

Who is the heart of Bayern’s team?

Kimmich, Diaz, Kane, Laimer, Kimmich, Olise, Stanisic… everyone. You want to approach these matches individually, but that’s a mistake. There are incredible players, but the team is the key. Both teams are clear examples of that.

Kvaratskhelia, do you also call him Kvaradona?

I call him lots of things, there are comparisons in Naples, we laugh about it. He is a very important player for us, with his qualities in play and what he brings as a person.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.