Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique is looking forward to meeting Pep Guardiola again in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.
The French league leaders are at the top of Ligue 1 but are in danger of failing to qualify for the next phase of Europe’s elite competition.
They have just seven points ahead of their meeting at the Parc des Princes, one behind City.
And although there is a lot at stake in this game, Enrique seemed more excited than nervous in his pre-match press conference.
He said: “Tomorrow will be a special game. Not only because it is important for both teams, but also because I will meet a friend with whom I have shared some great moments.
“It’s great to see Pep again. What connects us is our way of seeing football, constantly pressing, holding the ball stronger than the opponent.
“Of course there are nuances, but I think our starting philosophy is similar. I feel very lucky to have been his friend and teammate. I think he brought a new style of play to England.
Luis Enrique spoke to PSG TV on the eve of the game against City! 🎙️
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) January 21, 2025
“Last season we had to fight until the last day to get out of our group. I think we have faced some strong opponents in the group stage over the last two seasons. But what I see in my team gives me confidence and makes me very optimistic.
“It’s a very important game and everyone has to be ready, both the coach and the team. I think both teams will try to use their best weapons.
“With the new Champions League format, no one could have predicted where Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain would be. We still don’t know how many points we need to qualify for the next round, but maybe we’ll find out after this round.”
Enrique has strengthened his attacking options ahead of the game with the arrival of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The former Napoli winger joins in to provide competition to the likes of Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola in wide areas.
But the PSG coach says the Georgian striker can play up front and that is evident in his very first appearance for the club.
He added: “Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is a player who has proven his abilities in Napoli and in the Georgian national team. He can play on the wings, in the center and in attack… He is a player who adapts to our system. He is also committed defensively, which fits our idea of football.
“Against this background, we define our game plan. We hope that with the support of our fans we can get better, even though we know it will be difficult. We have all the ingredients for tomorrow’s game to be a great football match. May the best team win and I hope it is Paris Saint-Germain.”
