Luis Enrique: 'Both Barca and PSG are Champions League title contenders'

After defeating Barcelona in the Champions League, Luis Enrique shared significant remarks regarding his team’s display and PSG’s goals in the premier European tournament.

Barca took the lead first with Ferran Torres scoring in the first half. In the 38th minute, PSG’s young talent Senny Mayulu seized the chance to equalize at 1-1. In the second half, just seconds before the final whistle, Goncalo Ramos calmly finished past Wojciech Szczesny to secure a 2-1 win for PSG.

In his post-match comments, Luis Enrique praised the high quality of play shown by both teams: “It was a fantastic match. When you see two teams not playing aggressively but instead focusing on football and trying to hurt each other with the ball… that’s a very complete game. They had the edge until they scored. Then we regained control, Nuno made an incredible play. In the second half, I believe we played better.”

Adjustments made in the second half allowed PSG to turn the game around and finish off their opponent at the crucial moment. Enrique affirmed that the victory was fully deserved. The Asturian coach especially praised Vitinha and Pedri, two midfielders who had a major impact on the game.

He stated: “Vitinha is the best midfielder in the world, alongside Pedri. We struggled a lot to contain Pedri. It’s great to face players like them. They make you want to push beyond your limits.”

According to Enrique, the result against Barcelona was not only about the three points but also boosted PSG’s confidence for the rest of the campaign: “We played a good match. The beginning was quite difficult. They have many quality players. The first 20 minutes were complicated, and we made mistakes. But in the second half, we were superior and deserved the win. I’m satisfied because no matter the issues, they don’t matter. This is an important victory. Facing Barca is always tough.”

Despite defeating the Montjuïc hosts, Enrique still considers Barca a leading contender for the Champions League title. He emphasized: “They are among the favorites for the Champions League trophy. They play excellently, with very high quality, and the season is just beginning. Few teams have such a clear identity. Both Barcelona and we are candidates for the championship. But it’s only in the knockout stages that you find out which team is in better form.”

With strong form and confidence, PSG under Luis Enrique is showing serious ambition in the Champions League, and their coach believes this season’s race will feature them and Barcelona as top contenders.

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