Paris St Germain manager Luis Enrique has admitted his team’s narrow 1-0 win over Girona in the Champions League on Wednesday was far from enjoyable, despite the critical three points it secured for the French side. PSG benefitted from a last-minute blunder by Girona’s goalkeeper, Paulo Gazzaniga, whose earlier heroics had kept his team in the game. With just minutes remaining, Gazzaniga’s costly error allowed PSG to break the deadlock, claiming a tense victory.
Reflecting on the match, Enrique noted that while PSG may have had the upper hand, Girona’s performance was far from easy to handle. “I think we were superior, but Girona played us in circles and made us dizzy. At half-time, we said that if we didn’t press, we were going to suffer. We had to win, and it was very difficult,” Enrique told Movistar Plus.
In a light-hearted but telling remark, Enrique compared the tension of the match to childbirth. “I told [Girona manager] Michel that this was worse than giving birth, with all due respect,” he quipped, underscoring the mental and physical strain his team endured.
The win came under the backdrop of the Champions League’s newly revised format, which Enrique commented on extensively. Under the changes, teams now face eight different opponents, with the top eight in the 36-team standings automatically progressing to the last 16. The next 16 teams must play in an additional knockout round to advance.
While the new format introduces more games, it also raises questions about the significance of each result, a point Enrique did not shy away from addressing. “Winning a match or any title is difficult, but we don’t know the dimension of this competition with this format,” Enrique said, hinting at the potential unpredictability of results across teams with varying schedules. “We are going to have to play matches against teams that have easier schedules than ours. How many points are we going to need? There are many unknowns that need to be cleared up.”
Enrique’s comments reflect broader concerns about the competitive landscape within this new system. Teams like PSG, accustomed to intense opposition, might face extra hurdles when competing against clubs with seemingly lighter matchups. The strategic significance of every point now appears more critical than ever, adding pressure on top-tier teams like PSG to consistently perform.
Despite the victory, PSG suffered a blow when forward Marco Asensio limped off the field just before halftime, adding further strain to the club’s attacking options. Asensio, who had been in strong form since the start of the season, appeared to have pulled a muscle during a routine play. Enrique expressed hope that the injury would not prove to be severe but acknowledged that Asensio’s departure would test PSG’s depth.
“He felt a twinge. Marco had started the season well. This is professional football, and we have a very good squad,” Enrique reassured reporters, emphasizing his confidence in the team’s ability to handle setbacks.
PSG’s schedule offers no respite as they now shift focus to Ligue 1, where they face Reims in an away fixture on Saturday. The team will be eager to continue their domestic success while managing the physical toll of their European campaign. As the season progresses, the challenge for Enrique will be balancing the rigors of both competitions, especially given the demands of the newly structured Champions League.
