Enrique dismisses talk of PSG being favourite against Villa

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Luis Enrique shrugged off talk of his side being the favourite against Aston Villa ahead of their Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday.

While PSG has been a regular in the last eight since Qatari investor QSI bought the club 14 years ago, and reached the semifinals last season, Villa has not been in this stage of the competition since 1983.

“People said we had no chance against Liverpool (in the round of 16), so in my mind there is no such thing as favourites,” Luis Enrique said at a news conference on Tuesday. “It’s a very open and difficult match for both sides. I know it will be intense.”

PSG wrapped up a record-extending 13th Ligue 1 title on Saturday with six games to spare. Villa is pushing for a top-four finish in the Premier League and is on a seven-game winning run heading to Paris for the first leg.

Luis Enrique, who guided Barcelona to the treble in 2015, is bracing himself for a tactical headache against a Villa side coached by Spanish countryman Unai Emery.

“Their strongpoint is their versatility, so it’s hard to figure out how they’re going to play. They can play with a low block (and) they bring the ball out brilliantly,” he said. “Their biggest strength is how they attack from the back and reach the second line of attack quickly. It then becomes very hard to contain when teams are breaking from midfield.”

Emery is a respected opponent from the days when both men were coaching in Spain. Emery won the Europa League a record four times - three with Sevilla and one with Villarreal - and guided unheralded Villarreal to the Champions League semifinals in 2022.

“He deserves more recognition because he’s a great coach with limitless energy,” Luis Enrique said. “He probably already knows everything I am planning to do.”

Villa could line up with attacking midfielder Marco Asensio, who is on loan from PSG. So Luis Enrique was asked if he has a problem with the fact Asensio is free to face PSG.

“On the contrary, I am delighted that Marco can play,” he said. “I know him perfectly well, he’s a player of the highest level, with great technical ability.”

Although PSG is unbeaten in domestic soccer this season, the last three matches have all seen sloppy first-half performances. Luis Enrique looked stunned when his side fell 2-0 down inside the first 30 minutes against second-tier Dunkerque last week in a French Cup semifinal, and he warned his players about lapses in concentration.

“The Champions League does not allow you to switch off for one second,” he said. “You can’t reach the quarterfinal without being completely focused.”

PSG will be without captain Marquinhos due to suspension for the first leg, and the defense remains vulnerable to set-pieces and corners.

Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford returns to Paris Saint-Germain with Aston Villa on Wednesday seeking a hat-trick of wins at the home of the French champions while Marco Asensio can hurt his parent club.

The two players have impressed since signing on loan for Unai Emery’s men in the winter transfer window, scoring a combined 11 goals in all competitions. Villa head to Paris in buoyant mood on the back of seven straight wins in all competitions -- they are sixth in the Premier League and face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-finals later this month.

Rashford will have a spring in his step after twice playing a pivotal role in securing victories for boyhood club Manchester United at PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium.

In 2019, in a Champions League last-16 second-leg meeting, he scored a stoppage-time penalty, ensuring United progressed on away goals.

Two seasons later, in the group stages of the competition, Rashford again struck late to seal all three points in a 2-1 success.

This time the England winger, who has previously been linked with a move to PSG, will be wearing a different kit after leaving Trafford under a cloud.

The rejuvenated forward, who has provided a number of assists, scored his first Premier League goal for Villa against Brighton last week, three days after netting twice in the 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final win against Preston.

Agencies