Luis Enrique: PSG Ready to Take On 'Almost Perfect' Liverpool

Luis Enrique is confident that PSG can overcome Liverpool's potent attack and advance in the Champions League.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has praised Liverpool boss Arne Slot, stating that he has built an “almost perfect team” since taking the reins at Anfield. This endorsement comes on the eve of the two teams' highly anticipated Champions League last-16 clash at the Parc des Princes.

The midweek encounter pits two of Europe's top-performing teams against each other. PSG remains unbeaten in Ligue 1 and is cruising towards another domestic title, while Liverpool boasts a commanding 13-point lead in the Premier League and topped the 36-team league phase in the Champions League. Luis Enrique acknowledged the excitement surrounding the matchup, noting, “It's difficult to imagine a better match-up on paper, between two dominant teams, with two slightly different ways of playing but teams with dominant styles.”

Liverpool's past visits to PSG have ended in defeat, with losses in 1997 and 2018. Notably, the 2018 defeat was followed by Liverpool's Champions League triumph later that season, as they defeated Tottenham in the Madrid final.

Liverpool's past experiences in the Champions League final under Jurgen Klopp have been marked by disappointment, with two losses to Real Madrid, the most recent being in 2022 at the Stade de France. That match was marred by chaos outside the stadium, leaving many fans traumatized. Following Klopp's departure after nine years at the helm, Arne Slot took over as manager last summer and has made a remarkable impact on the six-time European champions.

Luis Enrique, the Paris Saint-Germain manager, has been impressed by Liverpool's transformation under Slot. “Liverpool have been one of the best teams in Europe over the past few years, they won the Champions League (in 2019),” Enrique noted. “It was difficult to improve on what Klopp did, but Arne Slot has succeeded in creating an almost perfect team.” Liverpool's resurgence has been fueled in part by Mohamed Salah's sensational campaign, which has seen him score 30 goals and provide 22 assists, making him a frontrunner for the Ballon d'Or.

Despite Salah's impressive statistics, Luis Enrique is aware that Liverpool poses a multifaceted threat. “There's a player like Salah with incredible stats, but there's not just Salah, there are lots of top-class players, it's a very complete team,” Enrique said, highlighting the depth and quality of Liverpool's squad. This assessment underscores the challenge that Paris Saint-Germain will face when they host Liverpool in the Champions League last-16 tie.

🎙️ Luis Enrique: "Liverpool have been the most consistent team since the start of the season. An almost perfect team, who know how to defend, press, and attack by keeping possession of the ball or accelerating. This match motivates us."#PSGLIV I @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/ADBXIeNCAU

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) March 4, 2025

Luis Enrique is drawing motivation from the challenge of facing Liverpool, saying, “That motivates us and it's time for us to also show we've got what it takes.” He acknowledged the threat posed by Liverpool's attack, noting, “They have one of the best attacks in Europe, we're going to look to keep the ball, but we'll need to be careful with their counter-attacks, they've got three fighter jets up front.”

Paris Saint-Germain's path to the Champions League last 16 was not straightforward, as they required a play-off victory over Brest after a sluggish start to the competition. However, they convincingly defeated Brest 10-0 on aggregate and have now gone 22 matches unbeaten in all competitions. Luis Enrique emphasized the importance of maintaining their consistent form, saying, “We have to be able to do what we've been doing since the start of the season, there's nothing that changes.”

Luis Enrique: "Rising up to the challenge" 💬#PSGLIV I #UCL https://t.co/eHiG6deRGh

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) March 4, 2025

Enrique acknowledged that facing Liverpool will be a formidable task but expressed confidence in his team's abilities. “We know that we're facing the most consistent team this season, but the plan doesn't change,” he said. “It's going to be a hard-fought, difficult game. The first match is not going to decide everything, but it's a very important one for us.” Enrique also highlighted the advantage of playing at the Parc des Princes, noting, “It's hard for opponents to play at the Parc des Princes with the pressure of the crowd.”