Samuel Umtiti reveals the story behind Barcelona’s greatest ever comeback against PSG – ‘Before the second leg, Enrique told us…’ | OneFootball

After opening up about the difficulties that shaped the latter part of his career, Samuel Umtiti shifted the conversation to one of Barcelona’s most unforgettable nights. 

Speaking to RMC Sport, the former Barça defender and captain revisited the extraordinary 6–1 comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2017 Champions League round of 16, a match he still describes with pure admiration and disbelief. 

Luis Enrique’s role in the win

Umtiti explained that the seeds of that miracle were planted long before kick-off, beginning with Luis Enrique’s bold decision to completely alter the approach for the second leg.

“Before the second leg, Luis Enrique told us that we were going to change tactics and play with three at the back. 

“We had two games to work on it, and he told us, ‘We’ll be one-on-one at the back, I don’t care.’ 

“We worked on certain phases of the game, and it was very clear,“ he said, while also describing Enrique as “a truly incredible coach.”

The former defender then went deeper into how Enrique reshaped his understanding of football.

“He made me evolve so much in the way I see football. He really focuses on the details. 

“His tactical sessions were like nothing I’d ever seen before. He had everything prepared for that second leg. 

“He told us: ‘They scored four against us, we can score six against them, don’t worry.’ 

“He got into our heads. He was really good. Everyone in Barcelona knew it was possible. 

Sergi Roberto scored the winner for Barcelona. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

“On the day of the match, everyone was calm. Iniesta was very calm. He spoke calmly in the locker room. He told us, ‘Guys, we know what we have to do.’ 

“I thought to myself: ‘We conceded four in the first leg, but you’re so calm!’ That’s what top-level football is all about,” he recalled.

Reliving the final moments

As the match approached its final stages, Umtiti explained how PSG’s hesitant approach actually played into Barcelona’s hands.

“The game would have been completely different if Paris had come out pressing us. 

“I remember Cavani wanted to press from the kickoff, but everyone was saying, ‘Hey, come on!’ 

“I expected them to press, but they didn’t at all. In the end, that put us more into the game than anything else. You put a little pressure on us, you scored a goal, and it was over. 

“Even when Cavani scored, I didn’t think it was over. Enrique said it in the team talk, ‘Even if they score a goal, we can score one, two… Don’t worry.’ 

“His team talk made an impression on me. It was as if everything had been planned,” Umtiti said.

He ended by reflecting on how surreal the entire night felt, even years later. He noted how the atmosphere at the Camp Nou was unlike anything he had ever experienced.

“Maybe things would have been different with VAR, I don’t know. Sure, it went our way, but we made it happen. 

“It’s one of the only games in Barcelona where I felt the stadium move, it was incredible. 

“After the game, it was crazy. I also remember that Neymar said before the game, ‘Today I’m going to score twice, you’ll see, I’m going to score twice.’ I felt like I was dreaming in that game,” he concluded.