PSG face Brest as they aim for Champions League last 16
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PSG coach Luis Enrique is happy that his players and his staff are all on the same page during a good run for the team.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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PARIS – Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique has reason to be relaxed for his team’s next match, as they welcome fellow French Ligue 1 side Brest to the Parc des Princes on Feb 19 in what should be a formality in the second leg of their Champions League play-off.
PSG were comfortable 3-0 winners in the first leg on Feb 11, as Ousmane Dembele played a key role with two goals.
Having advanced from 17 of their last 18 European ties when winning the first leg, the team have a massive 99 per cent chance of progressing to the last 16 – according to Opta.
“We are in a very special moment. The whole team is effective, which makes us very happy. It gives us energy to continue fighting in all competitions,” Enrique said last week.
“The players and the staff are on the same line, and that is very positive. The first thing is that the players have to feel that we trust them, which is why I change my starting line-ups.
“Our main idea is to be unpredictable for the opposition and predictable for ourselves. I like the way we play.”
On paper, with their 99 per cent chance, PSG are huge favourites. This will be the fourth time these two sides have met this campaign, with Enrique’s men winning all three games.
PSG have not lost in their last 31 encounters with Brest in all competitions (W23 D8), their longest unbeaten run against an opponent in their history.
On current form, they also have every reason to be confident. A 1-0 league victory over Toulouse over the weekend meant that PSG are now unbeaten in 18 matches in all competitions, winning their last six games.
Enrique is likely to again count on France forward Dembele, who has 18 goals in his last 12 games and 15 in 2025 alone. On the injury front, 18-year-old midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery will miss out again with an ankle issue.
For Brest, meanwhile, they will play for pride as no team have ever advanced after losing a home leg by three or more goals in Champions League history.
“As a team, I think they are much stronger than they were last season,” said their coach Eric Roy of PSG after the 3-0 loss. REUTERS
