Luis Enrique: "We're all very enthusiastic"
Men's football•
The Paris Saint-Germain coach gave his reaction to the club drawing Ligue 1 rivals Stade Brestois 29 in the UEFA Champions League play-off round.
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Coach, so it's an all-French tie for your team!
"We're going to play one of the best teams. Four French clubs qualified, which clearly shows something that we have been defending here, that is that the French league has very good teams. It's going to be in a different competition and we'll see who's the best over the two matches. There are a lot of factors that can have an influence. Of course, we're already prepared to play them on Saturday. I repeat, it's a very different competition and we're all very enthusiastic about it."
Is it a surprise for you to be facing a French club in the UEFA Champions League?
"Not really, no, because generally we know all our opponents very well. The fact that we're from the same country isn't going to influence us, I think, because we knowing our opponent very well doesn't mean that we're going to have a good day. It'll also be in a competition in which over 180 minutes, that is to say two games, you have to decide who'll go through. A lot of things can happen, small details that can have an impact. It's true that we have to prepare 100%, as all the teams do, but this competition has different characteristics. It's not a league in which you have 34 or 38 games to decide who's champions. It will be difficult."
What's your approach to this play-off?
"The truth is that because we suffered so much during the league phase due to the fixture list that we have grown as a team, I think the fans have seen that too. You mustn't forget that with three games to go, we had just four points. That means we have suffered, but I think that the team showed its personality, its character. That means we're preparing for the next round with a renewed spirit and with even more determination to continue in the competition. Now comes the decisive part of the competition."
