This Wednesday at 9pm (broadcast on Canal+), Paris Saint-Germain (25th) take on Manchester City (22nd) at the Parc des Princes as part of matchday 7 of the Champions League 2024-2025 league phase. In a press conference, Citizens coach Pep Guardiola spoke about the match and the Parisian opponent. Notably coach Luis Enrique, whom he knows particularly well.
Guardiola “a very important match for us and PSG, but there’s still one left.”
A must-win match? A match for survival?
There are still 2 games for both teams. It’s obviously a very important match for us and PSG, but there’s still one to go. We don’t know how many points we’ll need to qualify, although we know that if we won both we’d be there. Maybe a win would be enough.
The Feyenoord game hurts us, in a very difficult period. We never thought we’d be in this position. But we have to accept that we weren’t good enough. That’s sport, you have to accept it and move on.
Guardiola “PSG were incredible against Atlético de Madrid at the Parc, against PSV Eindhoven too.”
What do you think of the new format?
We’ll have to think about it at the end. But when you play against Inter, Juventus and PSG, they’re very strong teams and it can happen that you end up further down the table. There were also Feyenoord and Sporting, teams in great form. And then sometimes we just couldn’t win.
Like PSG, who were incredible against Atlético de Madrid at the Parc, and PSV Eindhoven too. They did everything they could to win, but couldn’t. That’s football. That’s soccer. This group stage will be a good experience for the rest of the tournament, because a lot can happen. All the teams are involved throughout, and that’s something new. It’s a very important game tomorrow, but there’s another one at home. We need points, maybe 6, maybe 4, maybe 3.
Guardiola “You always have to believe in yourself, in the fact that you can turn things around.”
A word about the season, can you still improve?
Of course we can. We weren’t at our best for 2 months. We got off to a great start and then collapsed. Now we’re where we are. Life isn’t always perfect. But the most important thing as a human being and as a player is how we react to situations. You always have to believe that you can turn things around.
Guardiola “I love everything about Luis Enrique and the way they play. ”
There’s been some criticism of PSG for not always playing a true number 9, what do you think?
I like everything about Luis Enrique and the way they play. You can criticize a team that plays with a 9 and doesn’t get a result, or a team without a real 9 that doesn’t get a result. One of the best teams in history was Barça with a false 9.
Luis Enrique knows better than anyone that the same style can be just as good with or without the result. Luis and I accept these criticisms, that we are judged when we make a choice. And we move forward.
It’s a young team with incredible qualities, particularly in midfield. There’s the speed of Barcola and Dembélé. There’s the experience of Marquinhos, the speed of Nuno Mendes and Hakimi. People say it’s easy to win, but it never is. You always have to prove it and do it.
I have a connection with Luis Enrique, we used to be team-mates, our families are close. We can have disagreements, but the intention is always good. He’s a friend, he’s always there and we’re always happy to see each other. All the same, I hope from the bottom of my heart that PSG puts in a horrendous performance, so that we can win. But the relationship will always be there after the match.
Guardiola “his successes are completely his own.”
Are your ideas for the game always similar? Has he copied your game?
I started a bit earlier than him, because I’m a bit older. He also made Barça almost unstoppable, especially with Neymar. He’s created an incredible team. He doesn’t copy, he creates. He’s got these ideas about all the players knowing how to keep the ball. But PSG are always under great pressure in the Champions League, and I know all about that. If you don’t win the competition, the rest doesn’t matter. But his successes are completely his own.
What do you see as PSG’s weaknesses?
I’m not going to tell you (smiles). We have ideas, they have strengths and weaknesses. Like all teams.
