Paris Saint-Germain lost 3-2 to Aston Villa (Aston Villa/PSG video highlights) on Tuesday at Villa Park in the second leg of the Champions League 2024-2025 quarter-finals (3-1 first leg, 4-5 aggregate). After qualifying, Paris coach Luis Enrique spoke at a press conference.
Enrique “We concede a goal following an easy mistake.”
Ousmane Dembélé said the team relaxed after the 2-0, do you agree?
“I think it was a game that went the way we expected. We scored two goals very quickly, taking advantage of the spaces left by the team. We’re a team that attacks very well against a low block, but can do even better when there’s more space.
I think we started the game exceptionally well. But of course I don’t like the end of the first half. There were a few actions and behaviours that didn’t match up to the demands of the Champions League. We conceded a goal following an easy mistake.
At the start of the second half, we suffered for three minutes and conceded three goals, and from then on we suffered enormously and had many other clear chances. But I think matches like that can help us improve. I’m happy with the result and with this qualification for the semi-finals for the second year running.”
Enrique “Tomorrow I’m going to enjoy the game at home with a beer“
Do you think you’re stronger than last season, and do you have a preference between Arsenal and Real Madrid?
”Tomorrow I’m going to enjoy the game at home with a beer. I’ll enjoy it a lot and wait to see if it’s an English team or a Spanish team. It doesn’t matter, it’s going to be special anyway.”
How does one experience such a stressful match from the bench?
“I never thought about elimination because Aston Villa still had a long way to go. They never equalised in the double-header. During the ten minutes when they scored two goals, there were a lot of questions because we’d never been so dominated this season.
They outplayed us in an exceptional atmosphere. We kept our heads down and we need to draw on our experience at times like that.”
Enrique “The second game is sometimes crazy in the Champions League”
Staying on the positive, can what happened tonight strengthen you?
“That’s the aim. There are four teams left. We can’t do everything. Sometimes the opponent is stronger. The second game is sometimes crazy in the Champions League and then there’s a lack of control, especially at the end of the first half, which allowed Aston Villa to get back into their game.”
Enrique “All their corners were in front of goal.
Why didn’t your defence and midfield perform as well as in the other games?
“I don’t think there were any mistakes. This reinforces our idea that we must never calculate. At 0-2, Aston Villa were completely knocked out. But overconfidence is forbidden at this level of the competition. The first goal put Aston Villa back in the game.
All their corners were in front of goal. We’re a team with smaller players who prefer to move the ball around rather than go for aerial duels. That’s not our game. And I liked the end of the match more because we were able to keep the ball better.”
What did you think of Gianluigi Donnarumma’s performance?
“Like the rest of the team: SENSATIONAL.”
