PAYBACK IN PARIS? THE REAL REASON LUIS ENRIQUE WANTS ANOTHER CRACK AT CHELSEA
Will it be Barca or Chelsea? Read Luis Enrique’s defiant message after PSG’s 5-4 aggregate victory over Monaco in the play-offs.
Luis Enrique isn’t taking anything for granted as PSG looks ahead to the Champions League last-16. If they end up facing Chelsea, he’s made it clear his players need to be ready for a fresh challenge. PSG just squeezed past Monaco in the play-offs, booking their spot in the knockout rounds of Europe’s top competition.
Wednesday night’s game against Monaco ended 2-2, but PSG came out ahead 5-4 on aggregate. Now, the draw in Nyon, Switzerland, on Friday will decide if they go up against Barcelona or Chelsea in the next round.
After that wild match against Monaco, Enrique spoke to Movistar and weighed his options. Which team would he rather face, his old club, Barcelona or Chelsea? He didn’t pick favourites. “Neither will be easy,” he said. “I don’t get to choose, so I’ll take whoever comes. Both are incredible teams. Barca means a lot to me; it’s always special. But if we get Chelsea, we’ve got some things to work on.”
Chelsea embarrassed PSG not too long ago, beating them 3-0 in last summer’s Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. That match ended with tempers flaring; Joao Pedro hit the turf after clashing with Gianluigi Donnarumma and Enrique.
You can bet Enrique wants payback. After the Monaco game, he told reporters his team knows how to handle big moments. “We deserved to qualify, but it wasn’t easy. The match was complicated. Sometimes you lose your rhythm, and it’s hard to get it back. But we should be proud of how we fought through it. If there’s a team in this year’s Champions League that’s been tested by the toughest group, it’s us.”
He’s confident his squad can handle anyone. “We’re used to tough games. Sure, we want to get better, but we just faced a top opponent. Barca or Chelsea will be tough, no question, but if anyone’s ready, it’s us.”
Enrique’s history with Barcelona runs deep. He played over 300 games for them, lifting La Liga twice, the Copa del Rey twice, the UEFA Super Cup, the Cup Winners’ Cup, and the Spanish Supercopa. Then he took over as coach in 2014 and kept winning La Liga, the Champions League, and more cups. His three years there brought a ton of silverware.
Enrique wrapped up his thoughts: “We have to keep going, stay ready for anyone, any competition. This season’s been crazy with injuries, but that’s not an excuse. It just helps to have everyone fit. We’ve got three months left, and we’re not changing our mentality. We’re in it to win.”
PSG CRISIS: LUIS ENRIQUE RESPONDS TO HAKIMI’S LEGAL BATTLE BEFORE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CLASH
High stakes: Discover why Achraf Hakimi faces 15 years in prison and his defiant response to the ordered rape trial in Nanterre.
If found guilty, Hakimi faces up to 15 years in prison, the maximum sentence for the crime he’s accused of.
Hakimi Facing Possible 15-Year Prison Sentence
French outlet Le Parisien, quoted by The Sun, reports that the incident dates back to February 2023. A 24-year-old woman told police she met the Moroccan international on Instagram in January.
She says that when she arrived, Hakimi kissed her on the mouth and breasts over her clothes without her consent and then assaulted her. According to her, she managed to push him away with her foot and left, texting a friend to come pick her up.
Later that day, she went to the police and gave what was called a "statement of rape", but at first she didn’t file a formal complaint.
In the weeks after, she sent investigators messages that reportedly showed how distressed she was after the incident.
On March 3, 2023, an investigating judge charged Achraf Hakimi with rape. Police took him into custody briefly, then released him under judicial supervision. Hakimi has denied the accusations from the start.
Now, in 2026, the Daily Mail reports that Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, confirmed a trial has been ordered. The prosecutor in Nanterre also confirmed it. In their words:
“A trial has been ordered based solely on the word of a woman who blocked all investigations, refused all medical exams and DNA tests, wouldn’t let her phone be examined, and wouldn’t name a key witness.”
Meanwhile, Gianni Infantino is accused of breaking strict FIFA rules during Donald Trump’s Board of Peace meeting.
After the latest news, Hakimi said:
“Today, a rape accusation is enough to justify a trial, even though I deny it and everything proves it’s false. This is just as unfair to the innocent as it is to real victims. I calmly wait for this trial, which will let the truth come out.”
PSG manager Luis Enrique was asked before the Champions League play-off second leg against Monaco if Hakimi’s case changes anything for the team or his role as vice captain. He replied, “This is in the hands of the justice system.”
Hakimi also spoke about the accusations in a January interview, saying there was a plot against him. “The truth is, when you’re successful and things are going well, you become an easy target for some people, and that taught me you can’t trust many people around you.
“They tried to blackmail me, and that’s why we filed a complaint. It’s going fine. The justice system handled things pretty well.”
A representative for the alleged victim responded, "My client feels huge relief at this news. Nothing in this case points to any blackmail attempt. We won’t let anyone smear her or destabilise her, which, sadly, still happens far too often to women who dare to report rape.”
Hakimi’s lawyer, Colin, criticised the prosecution’s move, saying, "These requests make no sense given the evidence. The case proves the plaintiff lied, especially through psychological assessments. Achraf Hakimi and I are as calm as we were at the start. If these requests are approved, we’ll appeal every step of the way.”
As of now, Hakimi is still free on bail.
HAKIMI TO STAND TRIAL: PSG STAR CONFIRMS RAPE TRIAL WHILE STRONGLY DENYING ALL CHARGE
Legal showdown: Discover why Achraf Hakimi is heading to trial and his defiant response to the sexual assault allegations.
Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco defender, says he’ll stand rape trial, a charge he strongly denies. He confirmed the news himself on social media Tuesday, writing, “Today, a rape accusation is enough to justify a trial, even though I deny it and everything proves it’s false. This is as unjust to the innocent as it is to the genuine victims. I calmly await this trial, which will allow the truth to come out publicly.”
The case started back in 2023, when the Nanterre prosecutor’s office opened an investigation after a woman accused the 27-year-old of rape. On Tuesday, prosecutors confirmed the case is heading to court.
According to the plaintiff, she met Hakimi on Instagram in January 2023. She says he ordered her a taxi to his home, then kissed her and touched her without consent before raping her. She says she managed to push him away and texted a friend, who came to pick her up.
Her lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, said her client felt relieved the case would get a full hearing. She praised the judiciary’s handling but pointed out that men’s football still has a long way to go when it comes to the #MeToo movement.
On the other side, Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, argued that the trial is moving forward based only on the woman’s word. She said the plaintiff blocked all investigations, refusing medical exams, DNA tests, access to her phone, and the name of a key witness.
Meanwhile, PSG are set to face Monaco on Wednesday in the return leg of their Champions League playoff. PSG won last week’s first leg 3-2 at Stade Louis II, and Hakimi was listed in the squad. Asked about his defender, PSG head coach Luis Enrique kept it simple: “This matter is in the hands of the authorities.”
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