Paris Saint-Germain head coach, Luis Enrique, has warned his players against becoming complacent after their 4-2 victory over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League, insisting that the result does not make his team superior to the Spanish giants.
The former Barcelona manager described such thinking as a trap, despite praising his side’s performance in Tuesday night’s encounter at the Parc des Princes.
PSG secured an impressive victory in the third round of the Champions League league phase after overcoming a difficult spell early in the second half. Enrique acknowledged the quality of the opposition while expressing satisfaction with his team’s overall performance.
Speaking to the club’s official channel after the match, the Spanish tactician praised the atmosphere at the Parc des Princes and credited the home supporters for their contribution to the memorable night.
“What an atmosphere there was here! The banners of our fans were once again stunning. I think we saw two teams playing stunning and very attacking football.”
Enrique added that PSG demonstrated their quality against a formidable opponent, although maintaining control of the game proved challenging at certain stages.
“We showed our level,” he added. “It was a very competitive match, and I think our first half was exceptional before we suffered in the first 15 minutes of the second half. It was difficult to keep control of the match, but after that we managed to create more scoring chances and win the match.’
Despite the significance of defeating Barcelona, Enrique cautioned against reading too much into the result, stressing that the three points were the most important reward for his team.
“It is just three extra points, but winning against a team of this quality is always positive.”
The PSG manager explained that his players must be prepared to endure difficult periods against elite opposition, recalling similar experiences during previous encounters with Arsenal and Bayern Munich.
“That is what happened last year against Arsenal and Bayern Munich: there are times when the opponent has the answers and you have to defend deep,” he added.
Although PSG were forced to defend deeper than intended during Barcelona’s strong spell, Enrique was pleased that his team eventually regained control and created further opportunities.
“But we got through it tonight.”
He also highlighted the contributions of his substitutes, whose introduction helped PSG regain momentum during the encounter.
“They were excellent and gave us a real boost. We are very happy. Now we must keep going,” Enrique said.
PSG’s collective effort crucial against Barcelona
Enrique said the contest unfolded largely as he had anticipated, acknowledging Barcelona’s attacking quality and the difficulty of containing their dangerous players.
“I watched a match of exactly the type I expected. It was very difficult and we were forced to defend out of necessity. The opponents are of a high level and they can beat you.”
The PSG coach praised his team’s defensive organisation, particularly their ability to recover possession in Barcelona’s half during the opening period.
“We did a good defensive job today. We were superior in winning the ball back in the opponent’s half during the first half, and that is thanks to our forwards. To take the ball off Lamine or Fermín or Olmo, either you get help from your teammates or it becomes impossible.”
Lucas Hernández also received special recognition from Enrique after scoring PSG’s second goal and helping to limit the influence of Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal.
“He did everything right, he scored a wonderful goal, and he put in an amazing job marking Lamine, and I am happy with him. He deserves it.”
The manager’s comments underlined the importance of collective defending against Barcelona’s technically gifted attackers, whose ability to create chances can punish teams that leave individual defenders isolated.
Enrique refuses to declare PSG superior to Barcelona
Despite the convincing scoreline, Enrique rejected suggestions that PSG had established themselves as a better team than Barcelona.
“No, it is a trap if we think we are the best or an exceptional team”.
He insisted that performances must be assessed beyond the final score, warning his players against allowing the victory to create a false sense of superiority.
“Today we produced good defensive work, but you cannot judge a team by the result alone,” he added.
Enrique also maintained his admiration for Barcelona, his former club, highlighting the quality they possess both individually and collectively.
“Barcelona’s individual and collective quality is amazing, and this gives our team even more merit,” he said.
However, the PSG manager identified the injuries sustained during the encounter as the most disappointing aspect of the night, noting that the absence of important players affected the contest.
“The worst thing was the injuries, as three important players were absent, but this is the nature of top-level football,” he said.
PSG will now look to build on the victory as their Champions League campaign continues, with Enrique emphasising the need for consistency and humility rather than allowing one impressive result to dictate their assessment of the team’s overall standing.
