On Tuesday, in the first leg of their 2025-2026 Champions League semi-final (the second leg is on May 6), Paris Saint-Germain will face Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes (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: “It’s an attractive match for everyone and for both teams.”
Is it a promise of a semi-final for the strikers?
No, on the contrary. While both teams attack very well, you have to know how to defend well. That will be key. You have to attack and defend well. It’s an attractive match for everyone and for both teams, who are having a very good season.
PSG is hitting its stride at the end of the season. How much of this was planned at the beginning of the season?
It’s very simple. We want to reach the end of the season in the best possible condition. We’re in the semi-finals, all the players are ready, except for Quentin Ndjantou. That’s the magic of the Champions League, which gives a special energy; everyone wants to play. Whether we finish better or worse, it’s not by chance. We’re very happy to be reaching this stage.
Luis Enrique: “We deserve to be here, we’re confident, but we know how difficult it is against Bayern.”
The are fans confident, do you think nothing can go wrong for PSG?
The fans are showing the confidence the team inspires, which is positive. But as professionals, and I’ll say it again, we don’t see a favorite. There was no favorite against Chelsea or Liverpool. We have to be ready for every scenario. We deserve to be here, we’re confident, but we know how difficult it is against Bayern.
Three semi-finals in a row, is PSG one of the European elite?
That depends on you, it’s up to you to say. It’s a pleasure, I think it’s deserved. The first year against Dortmund, we hit the post, we did everything we could, but we lost. We’re happy with what we’ve done, but to be here for a long time, you have to be very ambitious. We are. We want to go a little further.
Luis Enrique: “It’s a thrilling semi-final.”
The number one goal is to reach the final, the second is that it’s a clash between the two strongest teams. Do you feel this is a special challenge?
It’s not just about attacking statistics, but also defensively. Arsenal has also done a great job. But in terms of consistency, Bayern is a little bit better than us; they’ve only lost two matches. But based on what we’ve shown as a team, there’s no one better than us.
I said it after the end of the league phase, and I’ll say it again now. We respect all the teams, like Liverpool, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich. They have many top-level players, a coach who builds a real team. It’s a thrilling semi-final.
There’s uncertainty in midfield; how will you choose?
It will be a lottery. Everyone is ready, and I’ll be very happy (smiles). I’m going to field my best players to start the match, but be warned, we’ll need everyone to qualify. With that in mind, we’re more than ready.
Luis Enrique: “What do you think? Do you think we won the Champions League with Mendes and Hakimi in defense?”
Can Bayern’s very attacking wingers change the way the full-backs play?
What do you think? Do you think we won the Champions League with Mendes and Hakimi in defense? They have to defend, but to win, you have to attack as much as possible. We’re not going to negotiate; we want to win the first and second legs.
Are you changing your team talks for the semi-final?
Today, it’s Rafael Pol. It depends on what we’re looking for. When you play a Champions League semi-final, you don’t need the coach; I can go home (smiles). They’re all ready; they know what they have to do. You need a coach to calm things down, definitely not to motivate or excite them. You have to stay calm.
What are your thoughts on Vincent Kompany and Michael Olise?
I like all the Bayern players, not just Olise. Individually, they’re top-level. As a team, they’ve shown their quality. Kompany is a top-level coach, he’s shown that in England too. You can see it at Bayern, with how difficult it is to play against them. They’re a team I love to watch, a team that attacks and scores. I like all coaches, but especially attacking ones. He’s one of them.
Luis Enrique: “Making history was one thing, now we’re hungry.”
What are the keys to winning the Champions League again? What’s different about your team?
The first one was a relief, now it’s a different story, it’s motivation. Making history was one thing, now we’re hungry. We’re excited, we’re enthusiastic. We can’t wait to play tomorrow.
Marquinhos has only played 12 Ligue 1 matches; could this be his 13th in the Champions League? Why?
Because we need all our players to be competitive in all competitions. We have to manage the playing time. We monitor each situation. He’s a very high-level player with a lot of experience. He’s very important for us; we want the best version of Marquinhos for the bigger matches. That’s clear to us. We appreciated it, and I think he did too.
Kvaratskhelia: “You want to approach these matches individually, but that’s a mistake.”
Who is the heart of the Bayern team?
Kimmich, Diaz, Kane, Laimer, Olise, Stanisic…everyone. You want to approach these matches individually, but that’s a mistake. There are incredible players, but the team is the key. Both teams are clear examples of that.
Kvaratskhelia, do you also call him Kvaradona?
I call him many different things; there are comparisons in Naples, we joke about it. He’s a very important player for us, with his qualities on the pitch and what he brings as a person.
