Luis Enrique warns Paris Saint-Germain not to underestimate Villarreal in Champions League

Luis Enrique says Paris Saint-Germain must be fully focused when they face Villarreal in the fourth round of the Champions League.

The holders will travel to Spain to meet Villarreal at La Ceramica, with the French club aiming to improve on their progress through last season’s league phase.

“We started last year in the same way as we have started this season, and we were not among the top eight at the end of the league phase,” Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique said at his pre-match news conference. “That is the Champions League.”

He added: “Tomorrow, it will be important for us to be ready, whatever the circumstances. We want to improve our qualification position compared with last year. We know how difficult it is to win and to play every away match.”

Paris Saint-Germain lead the league-phase standings with nine points, while Villarreal are 19th on three points.

Luis Enrique rejected the idea that his side’s strong results since the start of the season would give them an automatic advantage.

“If you think we will win tomorrow’s match based on the results we have achieved since the start of the season, you are mistaken,” he said. “That is impossible if we do not have the ambition, quality and determination required to control the entire match.”

The Spanish coach expects a demanding test against Villarreal, who have faced a difficult opening schedule.

“We will see how strong Villarreal are; they are a very strong team,” he said. “They have played a difficult schedule, with four opening matches at a very high level. They are a very strong team.

“Tomorrow, we must show from the first minutes that we have the ambition. The results from the past will not matter in tomorrow’s match.”

Paris Saint-Germain will be without several key players for the game, including Marquinhos, Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Luis Enrique said his preparation had not changed because of the opponents or the competition, adding that he welcomed the challenge of facing Villarreal’s pressure.

“We have not planned for this match in a different way,” he said. “We always want to put in a good performance, regardless of the players or the competition.

“It will be difficult to overcome their pressure. I like playing this type of test.”