‘We’ll look for the result’: Luis Enrique adamant PSG will still qualify after loss in Dortmund

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·2 May 2024

‘We’ll look for the result’: Luis Enrique adamant PSG will still qualify after loss in Dortmund

Paris Saint-German coach Luis Enrique was bullish about his side’s chances in next week’s UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg at the Parc des Princes, following a tame, disappointing 1-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in Germany this evening.

For all their pre-game intentions of taking the game to the hosts, PSG looked laboured in the cauldron that is Signal Iduna Park, particularly in the first half. An improved second half performance, in which both sides had chances to add to the score, saw the German side see out a 1-0 victory and establish a lead to take into next week’s second leg.

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This isn’t the first time that PSG have left Dortmund with a one goal deficit to make up, with the Parisians prevailing 3-2 on aggregate in the round of 16 back in 2020 on their way to their first ever Champions League final, which they were narrowly edged out (0-1) by Bayern Munich.

Despite the disappointing performance, Luis Enrique remained convinced of his side’s chances to progress:

” I’m sure we’ll qualify. We will play at home in a completely different scenario. This will be the first time we’ll have played our second leg at home this season. We’ll have nothing to lose and we’ll look for the result. The atmosphere was excellent, especially our 3000 supporters. The return leg will be different. Our 3000 fans didn’t stop singing tonight, there’ll be 50,000 of them in Paris. We won’t lose a ball next week. We will look to qualify. Our objective is to make them proud of us.

Concering the game itself, Enrique lamented the lack of intensity in the first half:

“Our objective was to press. Dortmund is a team that has two ways of playing: long and short. We tried to protect our right side, we allowed the 2 vs 1 with Barcola, but whilst trying to stop them from playing long. In the first half, there was a lack of intensity in attack but it was totally different in the second half. We didn’t change anything tactically after half time, it was simply a lack of intensity. We needed to be more offensively incisive. After half time, we did it better. I can’t say anything to my players regarding the mindset after the break, we had chances to equalize. Managers always have to make choices concerning the players that they think will be best for the team. Before judging my substitutions, you have to judge the match. Both teams played well, especially with the ball. We had alot of chances, and the difference is that they scored and we didn’t, but the result shows that it was an even match.”

Enrique and his team will hope to turn the tide next Tuesday in the second leg.

GFFN | Jack McArdle