On Tuesday, in the second leg of their 2025-2026 Champions League quarter-final (2-0 in the first leg), Paris Saint-Germain will face Liverpool at Anfield (kick-off at 9 pm, CET). On the eve of this match, PSG coach Luis Enrique answered several questions at a press conference.
Luis Enrique: “There will be difficult moments.”
When you win 2-0 in the first leg, are there mistakes you can’t afford to make?
Yes, it was only the first leg, and we have to play the second. It’s clear this match will be difficult. When you play in this competition, away from home, against a team of Liverpool’s caliber, with that 2-0 lead, it will be tough. That’s clear to us. There will be difficult moments.
Will the first 15-20 minutes be crucial in the match? Do you need to emphasize this to the players?
Normally, when you start a match, it’s perhaps very important, but in today’s football, the result can change in 5 minutes. You can see different matches like that. You can score or concede. It’s important to start the match the way we need to, but it’s not the key.
Luis Enrique: “If you focus on scoring rather than defending, that’s the key for me.”
Is it easier to be the hunter or the hunted in this type of match?
That’s the difficulty of this match! For me, it’s a trap game. We won, everyone says we were superior, maybe that’s true, but football changes quickly. You have to be attentive, you have to be ready. You can concede a goal and the game is still open. You have to prepare as always; it’s our mentality to try to win. If you focus on scoring rather than defending, that’s the key for me. What I tell my team is to know that we’ll have difficulties.
Difficulties against Aston Villa last year, are you worried about the atmosphere tomorrow too?
It’s clear that it’s easier and more enjoyable at home. When there’s a connection with the fans, it’s better and you’re stronger. That’s what we’re trying to avoid against Liverpool. We know how difficult it is at Anfield. It’s also a motivation for us, to try and overcome their pressure. That’s the objective. It’s a tricky match. You’ll see tomorrow that it will be a very close game.
Luis Enrique: “The journalists don’t know anything about the injury situation.”
Does Ruiz have a fractured kneecap? Has that been the diagnosis from the start?
We need to see what the doctor says. The journalists don’t know anything about the injury situation. I’m not a doctor. Medical information belongs to the players, and it’s important to respect everyone’s health. The good news is that Fabian is recovering and training with the team. That’s very good news.
Is PSG stronger this season than last year?
It’s very difficult to judge that. That doesn’t mean anything to me. What matters is that we’ve shown our ability to overcome difficulties. That doesn’t mean we always will, but it shows we’re ready to raise our game. We’re still preparing with the same mentality, the same mentality we had when we lost the first leg. We’re aiming to win the second match; that’s the key for us.
