PSG v Liverpool – Luis Enrique sends out strong messages | OneFootball

On Wednesday, in the first leg of the 2025-2026 Champions League quarter-finals (second leg on April 14) , Paris Saint-Germain will face Liverpool at the Parc des Princes (kick-off at 9 p.m., live on Canal+). On the eve of this match, Paris coach Luis Enrique answered several questions at a press conference.

Luis Enrique: “There is no favorite.”

What does it feel like to be the favorite against Liverpool?

It doesn’t matter who the favorite is, or who you say is the favorite. In this competition, with teams like these, there cannot be a favorite. I don’t believe we are the favorite. Last year, everyone said it was Liverpool, and PSG went through. There is no favorite.

Have you had to deal with other difficulties to reach the quarter-finals this season?

It’s the coach’s job to find solutions. Every solution is different. What I want is for the team to keep the same identity, to play good football and enjoy the moment.

Luis Enrique: “He’s still lacking a little bit to be fully confident.”

Can Barcola be in the squad tomorrow?

If he is in the medical update, he won’t play tomorrow. Yesterday, he trained partially. Today, he completed the whole session, but he’s still lacking a little bit to be fully confident. We want the best conditions for the player. It’s up to him to say when he is ready.

Luis Enrique: “We play attacking football, we always want to win, no matter the opponent.”

Was last year’s first leg against Liverpool your best memory in terms of the way the team played?

It was a very, very high-level performance. It’s incredible, and it defines football that we lost that match. But I think we’ve had other matches at that level. I would sign up right now for us to reach that level again tomorrow. We play attacking football, we always want to win, no matter the opponent. We also want to enjoy playing at the Parc, the atmosphere is incredible. It’s very special for us to play at home.

Ruiz doesn’t feel ready to return? The situation is unclear.

That’s how it is. Every time there is an injured player, you have to wait until the player feels right. There is no problem. We want to get the players back as quickly as possible. It’s normal to still start out with some pain, but we want to give confidence to the players. Fabian has not yet trained with the group. He has improved a lot. We are very happy, it seems he is on the right path. But he still needs a little more time.

Luis Enrique: “They are very important in helping us win what we want.”

Gonçalo Ramos scored his 7th goal as a substitute, how do you keep him so involved? Is it important to have him?

It’s very easy to say, very difficult to do. That’s why if you think about a team that wants to win everything, you need players like Ramos or Lee Kang-In, ready to help the team at any moment. They are very difficult to find, and we are very happy to have them. They are very important in helping us win what we want.

You did not use Ekitike much when he was here, are you surprised by his success at Liverpool?

I don’t generally talk about players who are not at PSG. He did very well in Germany and now at Liverpool, and he is an international player. He has improved a lot. That is normal. He was very young here and he has developed a lot. This is not the time to talk about a Liverpool player.

Luis Enrique: “We are very happy because he is showing his level in training and in matches.”

How have you gotten Hakimi back after the AFCON?

He went through a very difficult process with the injury, he did everything to play in the AFCON. After that, it is impossible to immediately get back to your best level. Right now, we are very happy because he is showing his level in training and in matches. It is very important for the team. We are very happy to have him back.

Luis Enrique: “We know how difficult it is, they are a very good team.”

What kind of match are you expecting? What will be the key?

I don’t know! I think it could be a match like last year, it is once again a first leg at home for us. But everything can change quickly, with the result and different aspects of the game. We will try to have more of the ball. But we know how difficult it is, they are a very good team with many quality players and a very good coach. It will be very complicated. We are used to playing against English teams.

You said Liverpool/PSG is a European classic, why is it so special?

Because there are only 8 teams in the quarter-finals, and last year we had already played each other. When you are used to getting here, it is nice. You have to show it as a team, it is great to get here and face Liverpool. We want to qualify for the semi-finals. We know how difficult it is, but we are very motivated.

Luis Enrique: “This is the way we do things.”

PSG is no longer afraid in the Champions League, what have you done?

Nothing! It’s easy to say and very difficult to do. It’s what I said in my first days, that we would try every day to play attractive, attacking football. With a very aggressive defense. That’s what we have done. When you have a way of playing, with exceptional players, it is easy for me to say and difficult for the players.

This is our way of playing. After that, we can lose or win. This is the way we do things. And when you have supporters who back the team like this, it becomes easier. Enjoying playing at the Parc will be key.

Luis Enrique: “We are excited to play this match.”

You have many young players now compared to the time of Ekitike, what has changed?

Nothing. Being young does not mean you can play, you need the qualities, the attitude, the intensity. I love coaching young players, but they have to show a lot of talent and it is important to give them confidence. You have to give them trust, that is one key we use. We have improved a lot.

Liverpool can no longer win the league, and Van Dijk has suggested there is a sense of giving up. What do you think?

It is complicated to talk about Liverpool, Arne Slot does that very well. It is always the same teams as last year, but also a little different. Everyone wants to know who the favorite is, but that does not exist in a match like this. There are two good teams. We are excited to play this match.

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