After a commanding 2-0 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal in Paris, Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique expressed that his team should have scored more goals.
Defending champions PSG took the lead early when Désiré Doué netted a deflected strike in the 11th minute, followed by a solo effort from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia midway through the second half.
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However, Ousmane Dembélé had a frustrating evening, squandering three chances at Parc des Princes. The previous year’s Champions League winners also had a penalty overturned by VAR and a second penalty claim rejected later in the match.
“It’s unfortunate; we played excellently and deserved more goals,” said Luis Enrique, noting his surprise at Liverpool’s defensive approach.
Arne Slot left Mohamed Salah on the bench for the entire match and opted for a more defensive setup.
“It’s the first time this season under Arne Slot that they’ve employed five defenders,” Enrique observed.
PSG opened the scoring thanks to Dembélé’s impressive skill on the edge of the box, as he set up Doué, whose shot was deflected over Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and into the net.
After misfiring on an earlier opportunity, Dembélé was visibly frustrated after sending another effort over the bar in the 53rd minute following a pass from Nuno Mendes. He also hit the post in the closing moments.
“While we’re pleased with the win, there’s some frustration because we had several clear chances that we could have converted, knowing that the return leg at Anfield will be challenging,” commented PSG midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery. “The sentiment is that we should have aimed for three or four goals to be safe.”
In contrast, Kvaratskhelia capitalized on his chances, cutting in from the left in the 65th minute, evading a defender and the goalkeeper, and scoring his eighth goal of the tournament. This achievement makes him the first PSG player to find the net in four consecutive Champions League knockout matches.
In their previous matchup in the round of 16 last season, PSG advanced after a penalty shootout, losing 1-0 at home but winning 1-0 at Anfield. This time around, the challenge appears less daunting, especially with Liverpool facing a potential trophyless season. Yet, the six-time champions know how to claw back, as demonstrated by their remarkable 4-0 victory against Barcelona in the 2019 semifinals after losing 3-0 in the first leg.
The second leg is scheduled for next Tuesday at Anfield, promising another action-packed evening for Liverpool.
“We’re not heading there to defend, as that’s not our mentality,” Luis Enrique stated. “However, we understand there will be challenging moments at Anfield. I know this from my experiences as both a player and a coach.”
Contributions to this report were made by The Associated Press.