Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique refused to compare his current squad with the one that included Kylian Mbappe, as PSG prepare to face Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
“This is a question about the past and I’m not here to talk about the past, I’m only thinking about the future,” Enrique said when asked if his team is better without Mbappe, who left PSG for Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2024.
The Spanish manager did, however, admit that playing against Mbappe and the record 15-time European champions adds “extra motivation” for his side.
PSG will also have to contend with extreme heat in New Jersey, as temperatures have hovered above 35°C with high humidity, conditions that impacted Tuesday’s semi-final between Chelsea and Fluminense. Enrique acknowledged the challenge: “It’s not good for the spectacle… but it’s the same for both teams.”
Still, he’s relishing the chance to face Real Madrid: “We like playing these kinds of games because it means you’ve done your job well and you’re in a position to play in a semi-final.”
The winner of PSG vs Real Madrid will take on Chelsea in Sunday’s final, after the Premier League side defeated Fluminense 2-0, with Joao Pedro scoring twice.
