PSG’s Uphill Battle: Luis Enrique Eyes Champions League Redemption
Paris St Germain boss Luis Enrique believes his squad possess the qualities required to overcome RB Salzburg on Tuesday in a fixture they are compelled to win despite a disastrous beginning to their Champions League pursuit.
PSG hold four points from five fixtures and face missing out on the knockout phase as they linger in 25th position – two points shy of the playoff places.
Nonetheless, the French club’s setbacks have been against formidable adversaries, including Champions League stalwarts Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich, as well as last term’s Premier League runners-up Arsenal.
They can also draw encouragement from their displays in Ligue 1, where they remain undefeated after 14 fixtures and hold a five-point advantage at the summit.
With a showdown against 2023 winners Manchester City on the horizon in January, the clash with Salzburg in Austria and their concluding group fixture at VfB Stuttgart might represent PSG’s finest opportunities to secure points and climb the rankings.
“There are no straightforward away fixtures, whether in the (French) league or in the Champions League,” Luis Enrique told journalists on Monday.
“It’s a match tomorrow that’s critically significant for us, and I trust my team won’t be overly shaken. From the 19 or 20 matches I’ve observed, I admire what I witness; my squad inspires belief … The golden formula is evident: generate more opportunities than your rivals.
“You need to create 20, 25, or even 30 opportunities, which is optimal. And we have to allow as few goals as feasible and ensure our rivals have fewer openings. We’ll strive to enhance. We must maintain our assurance. We need to keep pressing forward.”
Asked if he was aiming for a certain tally of points to ensure PSG advance to the knockout phase, the Spaniard replied: “Nobody can predict how many points will suffice; it’s beyond calculation. We won’t delve into that. We aim to triumph in the three upcoming matches; that’s our aim.”
PSG possess one of the youngest rosters in the Champions League, with an average age of 24, but Luis Enrique insisted that inexperience wasn’t a factor in their underwhelming form in Europe this campaign.
“I believe our younger players are seasoned. Those who were present last campaign are accustomed to lofty expectations,” he remarked.
“I strive to extract the maximum from the individual and the team. I relish encounters like tomorrow’s … These are matches you must win. I never organize my lineup based on age but on what I discern in training.”