Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique has praised Liverpool counterpart Arne Slot for building “an almost-perfect” team.
PSG may be currently on a 10-match winning streak and unbeaten in all competitions since their last Champions League defeat against Bayern Munich in November but Enrique is an admirer of the Dutchman’s work.
“We know we are up against the most consistent team since the start of the season but our plan does not change,” the former Barcelona boss told a press conference.
Two days before Liverpool! 💪⚽️#PSGLIV | #UCL pic.twitter.com/BdK6L4H3dL
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) March 3, 2025
“It could have been difficult, in one season, to improve on the work done by Jurgen Klopp but he has managed to build an almost-perfect team that can play impressive football.
“They press without any problems and they are dangerous in attack.
“They have a lot of top-level players. They are a really complete team. All of that is obvious but that is also a source of motivation for us.
“This match is an opportunity for us to show that we are also at a high level.”
PSG lost to Borussia Dortmund in last season’s semi-finals but in five of the last eight campaigns they have exited at this stage of the competition.
A surprising 15th place in the new-format group phase league table saw them face a play-off against fellow Ligue 1 side Brest, which they coasted through, but that lowly finish means they must now face a Liverpool side which has lost just three times all season in three different competitions.
However, they will go into the game with some confidence as at the Parc des Princes this season they have won 14 of their 18 matches, only losing to Atletico Madrid in early November, and have scored in every home game this season.
But they have lost nine of the last 30 European matches in the capital and their record against English teams is just three wins in nine at home and five from 18 home and away.
Paris Saint Germain’s last four matches:
∙ 4-1 vs. LOSC ✅∙ 7-0 vs. Stade Briochin ✅∙ 3-2 vs. Lyon ✅∙ 7-0 vs. Brest ✅
21 GOALS SCORED 🥵 pic.twitter.com/dWdrfAhPV6
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) March 2, 2025
“It will be intense. On paper, it is one of the best matches you can watch in Europe. They’re one of the best teams in terms of counter-attacking,” added Enrique.
“We have to be careful that we don’t suffer from their transitions. They have three fighter jets in attack, it’s not easy to stop them if we don’t impose our game on them.
“We will need the ball. Maybe we’re not as tough physically but we are one of the best teams in possession in Europe.
“The first game will not determine who gets through. If we were to lose at home and then win (and qualify) at Anfield, of course I would take that.”
