Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has downplayed expectations that his team are favourites ahead of their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Liverpool on Wednesday. Despite PSG’s strong position as Ligue 1 leaders and their bid to defend the Champions League title, Enrique emphasized the challenge posed by the English side.
Liverpool, currently fifth in the Premier League, have endured a difficult season with 15 defeats across all competitions—their highest tally since the 2014-15 campaign when they lost 18 matches. Nevertheless, Enrique cautioned against underestimating them.
“It’s hard to label Liverpool as anything but a tough opponent,” Enrique said. “Their manager Arne Slot speaks highly of them. From my perspective, it’s both the same and a different Liverpool team. People debate who the favourites are, but in matches like this, that doesn’t matter. It will be a tough contest for both sides.”
He added that PSG’s consistent presence in the Champions League and facing Liverpool again is a positive sign. “We aim to reach the semi-finals, fully aware of the difficulty, but we are very motivated,” Enrique stated.
This fixture is a repeat of last season’s round-of-16 encounter, where PSG eliminated Liverpool on penalties. “Last year, many expected Liverpool to advance, but PSG went through,” the Spaniard recalled.
Notably, Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike will face his former club in this tie. The 23-year-old France international has had a strong debut season in England, scoring 17 goals and assisting six in 43 appearances. Ekitike had a brief stint at PSG between 2023 and 2024 but struggled for playing time amid competition from stars like Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe.
“After leaving PSG, he performed well in Germany and now at Liverpool,” Enrique remarked. “He has become an international player and shown significant progress. He was very young when here and has improved a lot.”
Regarding squad fitness, Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz missed Monday’s training due to injury, while French winger Bradley Barcola returned to training after recovering from an ankle issue.
