Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique stresses the need for vigilance as his team aims for back-to-back Champions League triumphs in their matchup against Monaco.
PSG carries a slim 3-2 advantage into the second leg at Parc des Princes after staging a comeback from a two-goal deficit in the first leg at Stade Louis II on February 17.
Enrique’s Game Plan
Luis Enrique, architect of PSG’s Champions League victory last May, commended his players’ resilience. “It’ll be tricky because Monaco will be starting the game a goal down and have nothing to lose,” Enrique stated.
He added, “So we need to know that there’ll be tough moments and the best way of handling those is to play as we normally do – to try to hold onto the ball and to press in the same way when we don’t have the ball. We’re out not to defend a result but to win a game.”
Defending Champions’ Journey
PSG navigated playoffs against Ligue 1 side Brest last season to secure a last-16 spot. They progressed by defeating Liverpool, Aston Villa in the quarterfinals, and Arsenal in the semifinals, culminating in a dominant 5-0 final win over Inter Milan in Munich.
Monaco’s Defiant Stance
Monaco coach Sébastien Pocognoli emphasized his side’s freedom in the return fixture. Defender Jordan Teze echoed this, saying, “PSG are strong, but so are we. We’re capable of giving PSG a good game. We have a lot of quality within our squad and we’re more confident now.”
Hakimi Set to Feature
Morocco international Achraf Hakimi remains in line to play for PSG despite facing charges on Tuesday related to an alleged rape incident in February 2023. The 27-year-old defender denies the claims and posted on social media, “I am calmly awaiting this trial, which will allow the truth to come out publicly.”
Other Key Ties
Tonight’s other second-leg playoff matches include Real Madrid holding a 1-0 lead over Benfica and Borussia Dortmund leading Atalanta 2-0. Juventus faces a steep challenge, trailing Galatasaray 2-5 after the first leg in Turkey.
Tuesday saw Bodoe/Glimt advance to the last 16 for the first time via a 5-2 aggregate win over Inter Milan. Newcastle United, Atletico Madrid, and Bayer Leverkusen also progressed.
