Luis Enrique admits Paris Saint-Germain side will have to “suffer” at Anfield in their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Liverpool.
PSG secured a 2-0 first-leg victory at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night, with goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia putting the French champions in a strong position.
However, Enrique was quick to downplay any suggestion that the tie was already decided, insisting the return leg in England will present a completely different challenge.
“I don’t think there’s such a big gap between the two teams,” Enrique said. “We are sure about what we can do.
“We know it’ll be really hard to play at Anfield. I’ve done it as a player and a coach now. We will suffer, we know that.”
Despite the two-goal cushion, PSG could have extended their lead further after creating several clear chances in the second half. Enrique acknowledged his side’s wastefulness but refused to criticise his players.
“We deserved this result, but maybe it’s a shame because in the second half we created a lot of opportunities that we couldn’t finish,” he explained. “No frustration. This is football. Sometimes you deserve more, but you have to accept it.”
Liverpool, who adjusted their shape after the break, tested PSG physically and tactically, something Enrique highlighted in his post-match assessment.
“They were strong physically and changed their formation during the match. It was really different in the second half,” he said. “We are used to this. Teams adapt against us.”
Enrique also praised the role of the home supporters, believing the connection between the team and fans played a key part in the result.
“We played at the right level for our fans,” he added. “The connection between the team and the supporters was amazing, and it really helped us.”
With the second leg at Anfield looming next week, PSG remain in control – but Enrique’s message was clear: the job is far from finished.
