Luis Enrique says Paris Saint-Germain have nothing to lose in their Champions League tie against Liverpool, predicting they will be dangerous opponents after their 4-1 win at Rennes.
PSG remain unbeaten in Ligue 1 this season after clinching their sixth successive league victory on Saturday, moving 16 points clear of second-placed Marseille.
Luis Enrique said the win at Roazhon Park would lift his team’s spirits ahead of Tuesday’s game against Premier League leaders Liverpool, who earned a smash-and-grab 1-0 victory in last week’s last-16 first leg despite being penned back for long periods.
“I think we’ll be in the best possible shape for the Liverpool game. We’ve got nothing to lose. Our only objective is victory and that’s what we’re going for,” the Spaniard said.
“Football allows for surprises; it is true that we were down and sad after the first game, but as we have analysed the game and after beating Rennes, a difficult team, it makes us hopeful.
“I repeat, we have nothing to lose, which makes us a more dangerous team than we usually are.”
Luis Enrique also hailed PSG’s tactical versatility and praised his players’ strength of mind after Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos scored and Ousmane Dembele added a late brace.
“I have to emphasise the mentality of my players, that all of them, whether they play or not, are competitive and want to fight for everything. It’s a pleasure for me to coach them,” he said.
“Our strength as a team is that we don’t just limit ourselves to one role, we are very good at having the ball in the opposition half, but we are also good going deep with the opposition pressing; I like the balance in the team.”
PSG have scored 70 goals in Ligue 1 this season, the ninth time a team has reached that mark after 25 games of a campaign. They are the only club to achieve that feat more than twice, also doing so in 2017-18 (76) and 2018-19 (77).
PSG host Marseille in Ligue 1 next weekend, after going to Anfield to face Liverpool on Tuesday.
