Enrique Targets Victory Against Barcelona Despite Injuries To Key Players

PSG coach Luis Enrique has set his sights on beating Barcelona in their Champions League clash on Wednesday despite their injury crisis.

The defending champions are expected to be without their key attacking trio Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for the clash in Spain.

The likes of Vitinha, Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz, and winger Bradley Barcola are also struggling for full fitness but Luis Enrique won’t take any risk to field them.

He said: “The decision will come more from the players than from me; they need to feel ready.

“There are different ways to view injuries, but you can have excuses or results, and we are looking for results.

“No matter who plays tomorrow, he will be part of a true team, and tomorrow we will prepare for the match as usual to aim for victory.”

Enrique led PSG to victory against Barcelona under Xavi Hernandez in 2024 but the Spanish coach refused to compare Xavi and Flick.

He said: “I don’t think comparing (Xavi and Flick’s sides) is the right thing to do, not comparing teams or coaches, because these are totally different situations.

“All I have to say is I have loved Hansi Flick’s Barca from the start, I think they connect with the idea of football that Barca holds.

“He’s clearly a high-level coach, he goes on the attack, uses attacking players, knows how to defend well, keeps a high line and presses at a high level…

“It’s a team I love, I love to watch, you know I’m a Barca fan, a club member, and I will be all my life. I see all their games and I love watching the team because they entertain me.”

Similarly, Barcelona coach, Hansi Flick, said the players are ready to defeat the defending champions on Wednesday.

He said: “It’s a different competition. We’re facing the best team from last season, with fantastic players and a great coach. I love the style, it’s a great challenge, and we’re looking forward to this match.

“All our opponents have their strengths and can leave us with space. In that sense, we need the right players, and that’s why we keep changing.

“It’s not that I haven’t found the right formula; it’s because I have confidence in the whole team, and there’s a lot of quality. It’s good that it’s like this.

“You see all the injuries there are, and PSG too. We have to manage it well. We’re missing important players in midfield, but we have to have confidence in the young players.”

Luis Enrique played for Barcelona from 1996 to 2004 and later coached the team, leading them to the treble in 2015.