Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique has shifted his focus to the upcoming Champions League clash against Liverpool after his team delivered a dominant 4-1 victory over Lille on Saturday. The French champions put on a stunning first-half display, scoring all four of their goals before halftime, securing their tenth consecutive win across all competitions. PSG has been unbeaten since their last defeat against Bayern Munich in November, reinforcing their strong form heading into the European knockout stages.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Enrique praised his squad’s performance, calling it their best first half of the season. However, he quickly turned his attention to the Champions League round of 16, emphasizing the importance of the two-legged tie against Liverpool. Acknowledging the challenge ahead, Enrique described Liverpool as the most in-form team in Europe, both in terms of results and playing style. He noted that the matchup could have been worthy of a Champions League final and urged his team to recover well and approach the games with ambition.
Liverpool, who currently lead the Premier League, finished first in the league phase of the Champions League, while PSG placed 15th and had to battle past Brest in the playoffs to secure their spot in the last 16. The two sides last met in the Champions League group stage in 2018, with both winning their respective home games.
Enrique emphasized that PSG would not alter their playing philosophy for the Liverpool test, drawing comparisons between their recent opponent Lille and the Merseyside club. He highlighted how his team’s high pressing forced Lille to abandon their build-up play and resort to long balls, a strategy he believes could also be effective against Liverpool. However, he admitted that the clash against Jurgen Klopp’s side would present a much tougher challenge.
Despite the difficulty of the fixture, Enrique expressed confidence in PSG’s current form, stating that they are in their best period of the season. He reaffirmed his commitment to an attacking approach, rejecting the idea of sitting back defensively against a side as strong as Liverpool. Instead, he insisted that PSG would play to their strengths, aiming to turn the tie in their favor with an aggressive and positive style of football.
PSG will host Liverpool in the first leg at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, with the return leg scheduled for March 11 at Anfield.
