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.”
VITINHA WARNS PSG TEAMMATES: "UNDERESTIMATE LIVERPOOL AT YOUR OWN PERIL" TONIGHT
PSG vs Liverpool preview: Vitinha recalls the 2025 final as PSG looks to repeat their Munich dominance at home.
Vitinha isn’t buying into the hype about PSG being the favourites against Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-finals. Sure, he’s at the heart of the team that lifted the trophy in 2025, but he’s staying grounded. He pointed to Liverpool, fresh off a 4-0 thumping by Manchester City in the FA Cup, as a side you just can’t underestimate.
“Everyone knows how unpredictable these matches are. There’s no favourite,” Vitinha said before the first leg at Parc des Princes. “It’s Liverpool. They’ve got top players, and anything can happen. We’ve got two big games ahead, one in Paris, one at Anfield.”
He made it clear: PSG will go all out. “We’ll give one hundred per cent. We always play to win, and that’s not changing now.”
Last season, PSG knocked Liverpool out in the round of 16 on their way to the final in Munich, where they dominated Inter Milan. Vitinha, alongside Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz, controlled the midfield. In the final, he set up Hakimi’s opener with a smart pass through the Inter defence. Later in the match, he put together a slick move with Dembélé before assisting Doué for PSG’s third. By full time, PSG had put up a five-goal margin, the biggest ever seen in the final since the competition began.
“The feeling in the squad is amazing,” Vitinha said. “Big Champions League games like these are what we live for. We’re focused, but we know Liverpool is dangerous.”
Liverpool bounced back from that European exit by winning the Premier League, but this season they’re fighting to book another Champions League spot. Their manager, Arne Slot, isn’t getting distracted by how their season’s been going. “I don’t pay much attention to the league table right now. This is a huge challenge,” he's said. “City and PSG are very similar in their quality and style. A Champions League quarter-final is never routine, especially not against the defending champions.”
After facing PSG, Liverpool hosts Fulham in the Premier League. Meanwhile, PSG gets a bit more rest: French league officials rescheduled their game against Lens to give them extra time to prep for the second leg at Anfield in mid-April, a move Lens isn’t thrilled about.
Elsewhere, Wednesday’s other quarter-final first leg sees Barcelona play Atletico Madrid. So, the Champions League drama keeps going.
PSG BENEFITS FROM FRIDAY FIXTURE AS LIVERPOOL RECOVERS FROM SATURDAY’S HIGH-INTENSITY CLASH
PSG beats Toulouse 3-1 as Ousmane Dembele scores twice. See why Luis Enrique is confident facing Arne Slot’s Liverpool.
Liverpool’s got no time to catch its breath after losing to Manchester City on Saturday. Now comes the real test: Arne Slot’s team has to face the defending European champs next.
Honestly, after that 4-0 thumping at the Etihad, hope among Liverpool fans is pretty thin. The Champions League feels like the only shot at any kind of glory this season, but even that seems far-fetched right now. They’re heading to France to play PSG in the first leg of the quarter-final, and Luis Enrique’s squad had a way easier time this weekend.
While Liverpool struggled big time against Haaland and his crew, PSG cruised to a 3-1 win over Toulouse. Ousmane Dembele showed why he’s a Ballon d’Or winner; he scored two goals, one before and one after Toulouse’s strike. Then Goncalo Ramos sealed the deal in stoppage time.
PSG got to play on Friday, which means more rest and prep for the big Champions League clash. Enrique rotated his squad, resting three important players: Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, and Joao Neves started on the bench but got minutes later. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia left just before the 70th minute, and Desire Doue was subbed out near the end.
Dembele and Achraf Hakimi, who hit their 200th club appearance, played the whole match. PSG really benefitted from Lens losing 3-0 to Lille too, solidifying their spot at the top.
Enrique seemed pretty pleased after the win. He said grabbing those points was crucial, especially after the international break. Lots of players came back tired, but PSG handled it. Playing on Friday made things harder, but now they’ve got some downtime before facing Liverpool.
Still, PSG’s victory wasn’t flawless. Matvei Safonov, their keeper, fumbled a cross that led to Toulouse’s goal. So now there’s talk about whether he should keep his place against Liverpool or if Lucas Chevalier gets the nod.
PSG heads into Wednesday’s showdown full of confidence. Liverpool, honestly, needs something special to turn things around.
