PSG v Chelsea: Marquinhos unsettled, Kvaratskhelia fired up, inside the win

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·13 March 2026

PSG v Chelsea: Marquinhos unsettled, Kvaratskhelia fired up, inside the win

At Paris Saint-Germain, Luis Enrique, the 55-year-old Spanish coach, seems to have put his team back on track just as the European tension was rising again after the 5-2 victory in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16. According to details shared by RMC Sport, the Parisian coach had to manage both delicate individual situations and a renewed collective demand, with a locker room determined to rise again to the level of the Champions League.

"It feels like the Champions League started yesterday for the players"

"It feels like the Champions League started yesterday for the players," confides someone close to the team. Regarding individual players, Marquinhos had a personal issue during the week. The Parisian captain couldn't participate in all the training sessions. The management and staff supported him during this delicate time. Ultimately, Luis Enrique decided to start him alongside Pacho. Ousmane Dembélé was also in the starting lineup, delivering an outstanding performance as a true leader. He was substituted in the second half, but not due to injury.

"The goal of a 'back to back' in the Champions League is still in mind, but everyone knows it will be difficult"

With his double coming off the bench, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was immense. Starting on the bench, the Georgian was motivated and provided Luis Enrique with the spark he was waiting for. The goal of a 'back to back' in the Champions League is still in mind, but everyone knows it will be difficult. For the return match against Chelsea, the idea will be to play to win, continuing to press. To avoid any surprises, Paris does not want to be content with just defending their home advantage."

Beyond the score, it is especially Luis Enrique's touch that stands out in this Parisian sequence. By maintaining his line while adapting his choices to the current form and vulnerabilities, the PSG coach has brought his team face to face with their responsibilities without breaking their momentum.

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The management of Marquinhos, the 31-year-old defender, the continued trust in Ousmane Dembélé, the 28-year-old forward, and the impact of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the 25-year-old winger, all tell the same story: Paris wanted to respond through involvement, not words.

The impression from behind the scenes is that of a locker room touched in its pride, aware of the need to raise the bar, and pushed by their coach to play forward rather than calculate.

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