Luis Enrique confidently claims that “there’s no team better than us” as he readies Paris Saint-Germain for a high-stakes Champions League showdown against Bayern Munich.
The defending champions are set to host the newly minted Bundesliga champions in the much-anticipated first leg of the semi-final on Tuesday.
PSG enters the match at Parc des Princes in excellent form, having secured eight wins in their last nine games and holding a six-point lead at the top of Ligue 1.
The team has also performed impressively in Europe, eliminating AS Monaco, Chelsea, and Liverpool in previous knockout rounds.
Now, they face a formidable Bayern team, but Enrique is optimistic that his squad holds the upper hand.
“These are the top two teams in Europe,” the Spanish coach stated during his pre-match press conference. “While Bayern may have better consistency with only two losses, I believe there’s no team better than us based on our performances.”
“To succeed, we must be more aggressive in our attack than in our defense. We’re aware of the challenge ahead, but our goal is clear — we want to win,” he added.
Bayern arrives in Paris boasting nine consecutive victories and 16 wins from their last 17 matches across all competitions.
They have triumphed in 11 of their 12 Champions League fixtures this season, with their only loss occurring against Arsenal in November, and a Bundesliga defeat to Augsburg in January being their only other setback.
England‘s captain Harry Kane has spearheaded their attack with 53 goals in all competitions, including 12 in the Champions League. Bayern has also bested PSG in their last five encounters, winning 2-1 in Paris earlier this season.
Bayern manager Vincent Kompany realizes the significance of the match and is unfazed by the challenge.
The former Manchester City captain remarked: “We’ve already secured wins at the Bernabéu and in Paris this year. Paris may be the reigning Champions League holders, but we are more than capable of meeting this challenge. We respect their quality, but we’re eager for this game.”
This encounter marks the 15th meeting between the two clubs in this competition — their ninth in just as many seasons — continuing a rivalry that has become well-known on the European front.
Kompany, who will observe from the stands due to a touchline ban, anticipates that the match will be decided by fine margins.
“We have experience against them, but so do they. Both teams are brimming with creativity. It will come down to details, intensity, and energy,” he concluded.