Paris Saint-Germain arrive in Munich with a narrow advantage and a clear message: they are not here to protect it.
Ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, PSG coach Luis Enrique brushed aside the value of his side’s 5-4 win in Paris, calling it irrelevant to what comes next.
“It’s nothing,” he said of the one-goal cushion. “It’s just one goal. We are ready. We know Bayern Munich can get back into the match and we can also score goals. And we are certainly not here to defend. We’re trying to win the game.”
It was a firm statement, delivered without hesitation, and it captured the mood inside the PSG camp. The French champions, who are also the defending European titleholders, know the tie is finely balanced after one of the most dramatic matches the competition has seen in years.
The first leg in Paris swung wildly. PSG went behind early, roared back to lead 5-2, and then held on as Bayern clawed their way back into contention. It finished 5-4, a scoreline that underlined both sides’ attacking threat and defensive vulnerability.
Luis Enrique was frank about the spectacle. He called it the best match he has been involved in as a coach, though he admitted it was far from enjoyable on the touchline.
“As a top-level coach, it was very difficult to enjoy,” he said.
Now the focus shifts to Munich and the Allianz Arena, a ground that holds significance for PSG. They lifted last season’s Champions League trophy there and return with familiar memories of success.
Midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery, speaking alongside his coach, said the squad embraced the chaos of the first leg.
“It was a crazy game for us,” he said. “We play football to be involved in these sorts of games. It was one of the best matches the Champions League has seen. The intensity, the commitment, the goals, it was simply exceptional. And we’re expecting the same thing on Wednesday.”
For PSG, this is their fifth semi-final in seven seasons, and their third in a row under Luis Enrique. The Spaniard believes Bayern remain the toughest opposition they have faced this campaign, but insists his side will not drift from their identity.
“I don’t think either team will just accept that the other is better,” he said. “Our mentality is to win every game. We don’t need to play for a particular result because we have to win.”
Bayern, meanwhile, return to home soil knowing one goal could tilt the tie their way. PSG, however, appear unwilling to retreat into caution.
And if Luis Enrique’s words are any guide, they will not be arriving in Munich to sit on what they have.
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