Luis Enrique: PSG eager to be the only team to beat Barcelona this season

Luis Enrique says Paris Saint-Germain must prevent Lamine Yamal from seeing the ball if they are to contain the Barcelona forward in Tuesday’s Champions League meeting.

Barcelona visit Paris Saint-Germain at 22:00 on Tuesday in the third round of the Champions League league phase, with the two sides level at the top of the table.

“The best way to defend against Lamine is to make sure Barcelona do not get the ball,” said PSG manager Luis Enrique at his pre-match news conference. “We must not allow them to have possession, because if they do, he will be dangerous.”

He added: “We have to focus on what we can do. We know they have some exceptionally talented players – not only Lamine, but also Raphinha, Pedri, Cubarsi and Joan Garcia. There are many of them.”

Asked about comparisons between Yamal and Lionel Messi, Luis Enrique said the teenager should not be judged against other players.

“Lamine Yamal wants to remain Lamine Yamal,” he said. “We cannot compare him with Messi or anyone else. He is very intelligent and he has to remain himself.”

Luis Enrique has a strong connection with Barcelona, having represented the club as a player and later managed them from 2014 to 2017.

During that period, he guided Barcelona to the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, as well as two La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey trophies and one Spanish Super Cup. He was also named the world’s best manager for the 2014-15 season while in charge of the Catalan club.

“I know Barcelona very well and I like the way they play,” Luis Enrique said. “It will be a difficult match because of the quality of their players, and the small details can make a big difference.”

Both teams possess outstanding individual talent, he said, but success would depend on their collective performance.

“There are excellent individual players in both teams, but winning requires a team effort,” he added. “I know it will be a great game.”

Barcelona arrive in Paris having won 11 matches in a row, but Luis Enrique views that run as motivation rather than pressure.

“This challenge is motivation, not pressure,” he said. “It motivates us. We are excited by the possibility of being the only team to beat Barcelona this season.”

On whether Hansi Flick’s approach resembles the style Luis Enrique used at Barcelona, the PSG manager said: “It is clear that Hansi Flick has improved the results and applied a style similar to the one he used at Bayern Munich. We have to attack if we want to win.”

Luis Enrique added: “I am the Paris Saint-Germain manager. At first, I found it difficult to play against Barcelona, but I got used to it. Above all, I want to win tomorrow. It is a great motivation to face the club that has had the biggest influence on my career.”

Paris Saint-Germain lead the Champions League standings on goal difference. Both sides have won their opening two matches, with PSG scoring 10 goals and conceding three, while Barcelona have scored nine and allowed two.