PSG Boss Luis Enrique Expecting Tough Challenge from Nantes in Ligue 1

PSG boss Luis Enrique is confident his team can bounce back from their Champions League disappointment and secure a win against Nantes in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

Despite a dismal Champions League campaign, Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique remains optimistic ahead of their Ligue 1 match against Nantes at Parc des Princes on Saturday. Enrique is urging his team to maintain a positive mindset following their latest setback in the Champions League.

PSG's disappointing European campaign continued with a 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday. The defeat has left the Ligue 1 leaders in a precarious position, ranking 25th in the Champions League table with just four points. With only three matches remaining in the first phase, PSG now face an uphill battle to secure a playoff spot.

“From what we saw, it was positive. We played against a contender for the final away from home. I liked what I saw despite everything, there are always points to improve but it's important to stay positive,” Luis Enrique told reporters on Friday.

“Bayern are one of the favourites to win the final. We applied the same pressure as usual. I tried to change things... I haven't seen a team that has troubled them more than us this season...

“I feel confident. We should have nine points in the Champions League. I'm not hiding behind that. I liked what I saw in Munich. I'm very optimistic.”

Paris Saint-Germain's sole Champions League victory this season came in their opening match against Spanish side Girona. Since then, the team has struggled to replicate that success, with their latest outing against Bayern Munich ending in a 1-0 defeat.

The match against Bayern took a turn for the worse for PSG when winger Ousmane Dembele received his second yellow card in the 56th minute for a lunging tackle. The resulting red card forced PSG to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match, further complicating their chances of securing a favorable result.

Paris Saint-Germain currently lead the Ligue 1 standings with 32 points, boasting an impressive record of 10 wins and two draws from their 12 matches. In contrast, Nantes are positioned 16th with 10 points. Despite the disparity in their league positions, Luis Enrique has acknowledged that Nantes will approach their weekend encounter with a carefree attitude, having nothing to lose.

“(Nantes) have fewer points than the team deserves. They're coming into the game on a run of (four league) defeats but I'm expecting a tough game,” the Spaniard added.

“We need to keep racking up wins and get into good habits with a view to the Champions League.”