“It’s going to be spectacular”: Luis Enrique talks up Champions League semi-final

In his press conference ahead of tomorrow’s UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg with Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique did not hesitate to hype up the clash, appearing buoyant, bullish and cracking jokes along the way. 

PSG are heavy favourites to progress, something that Enrique did not entertain and laughed off: 

“I think going out would be a disappointment for any of the four teams left in the semi-finals. It’s not any different for us! PSG immense favourites? It’s proof that the press knows nothing about football (laughs). It’s nice to be able to enjoy a special match, in a unique atmosphere, to try and arrive in the final”. 

Both teams’ quarter finals, contrary to popular convention regarding the latter stages of the Champions League being tight, tactical affairs, were gloriously open, with PSG prevailing 6-4 on aggregate against FC Barcelona and Dortmund edging Atlético Madrid 5-4 on aggregate, both teams having overturned first leg deficits: 

“I think this tie will be similar to the quarter finals. We’re not a cagey team, Dortmund is the same. We are going to try and win this match with our football. I think it will be spectacular, there will definitely be goals given the ability of both teams to create chances. We are improving, we are at the start of our project. There is one month left of the season and we are still in all competitions. We will have to manage these emotions, handle the pressure, be ambitious. We can’t start to see the pressure as a threat.

We have progressed in all aspects, defensively and offensively, but we can still get better. That’s our way of managing the group, to be demanding of the players. We have shown character to overcome difficult moments where we were