Slovan Bratislava manager Yaya Toure has challenged his players to display courage, determination and passion when they face defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League opener on Wednesday.
The Slovakian champions head to the Parc des Princes for a daunting league-phase encounter against a PSG side filled with some of Europe’s biggest stars.
Toure’s team earned their place in the competition after navigating a demanding qualifying campaign, overcoming Iberia Tbilisi, Mjallby and Celje.
The fixture is also a landmark occasion for Toure, who becomes the first African manager to lead a team in the Champions League.
Despite the quality of the opposition, the former Barcelona midfielder does not want his players to be intimidated by PSG’s star-studded squad.
“We’re playing against one of the best teams in Europe, with [Ousmane] Dembele, [Desire] Doue and the others, but I don’t want them to be afraid. They may be passed once, twice or three times, but they have to hang in there. After the match, I’ll ask them what they learnt and what they did well.”
Toure acknowledged that his side could endure difficult periods during the match but insisted they must remain committed to the challenge.
“We have to give them a hard time. We have to be courageous, determined, passionate. We’re going to make mistakes, we’re going to suffer, but I look forward to seeing how my team will perform.”
The Ivorian also spoke highly of PSG manager Luis Enrique, praising the Spaniard for his achievements in European football.
Enrique has guided PSG to successive continental triumphs, earning Toure’s admiration ahead of their meeting in Paris.
“He’s one of the best coaches in the world, playing against his team is a pleasure. We’re going to try to put on a good show and we have a lot of respect.”
The match comes at an important time for both teams, with neither enjoying an ideal domestic campaign.
Slovan Bratislava have suffered consecutive league defeats and currently sit fourth in the standings, while PSG have endured a slow start in Ligue 1 and are 13th.
For Toure, the Champions League clash will provide an early opportunity to assess how his players respond to the pressure of competing against Europe’s elite.
