This Wednesday at 9 p.m. (CET), Paris Saint-Germain face Slovan Bratislava at the Parc des Princes in the opening matchday of the 2026–2027 Champions League. In a press conference, the Slovak club’s coach, Yaya Touré, spoke about the match and their Parisian opponents.
Yaya Touré: “He is one of the best coaches in the world; playing against his team is a pleasure.”
How are you approaching this match against PSG?
“It’s a great match to play; I’m really excited. They are one of the best teams in the world. I have a lot of respect for this team.”
Luis Enrique described your team as one that loves possession; does that praise put any kind of pressure on you?
“No, why would there be pressure? It’s a pleasure; I’m happy to be here—it shows, doesn’t it? (Laughs.) He is one of the best coaches in the world; playing against his team is a pleasure. Things are a bit tough for PSG right now (two draws and a loss in the league). They’ll try to bounce back; we’ll try to put in a good performance. We have a lot of respect for them.”
Yaya Touré: “The players are eager to play against Paris.”
Is this the best time to face PSG?
“It’s a good time to face them, but… In my experience, their starts to the season have always been difficult, yet over the long haul… Winning the competition twice is exceptional. Paris is still Paris; they’ve been exceptional. We’re going to play without fear and with great desire. People tend to think players get overawed, but the players are eager to play against Paris. I’m looking forward to seeing how they perform. They aren’t in top form… The Parisians will have to prove themselves.”
Yaya Touré: “We have to give them a real run for their money.”
How do you avoid fear or apprehension before facing a team like Paris?
“When I started playing football, I never wanted to be the guy who showed too much respect; you need character to perform. We respect Paris—with the best coach and the best players in the world, it’ll be a great challenge. But the players aren’t afraid.” “I need them to let loose. It’s Paris, sure, but it’s a match. The players need to run and get down the flanks. We have to give them a hard time. We need to be brave, determined, and passionate. We’re going to make mistakes and we’re going to suffer—that’s for sure—but I need to see how my team performs,” said the coach, as reported by L’Équipe.
PSG returns to Champions League action this Wednesday, naturally carrying the status of two-time European champions. As defending champions, the Parisians simply cannot afford to stumble in their opener—especially since the match is taking place at the Parc des Princes.
After a difficult start to the Ligue 1 season, PSG needs to get back to winning ways on the European stage. However, their recent results will undoubtedly serve as a source of motivation for their opponents this Wednesday. Even so, the experience within the “Rouge et Bleu” squad should certainly allow them to gain the upper hand in the match.
A victory would provide a major confidence boost and could truly kickstart their season. The opening weeks are always challenging, but securing these three points is crucial for setting themselves up well for the weeks ahead and the upcoming big fixtures.
