Paris St. Germain manager Luis Enrique has played down suggestions that his side are favorites ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against out-of-form Liverpool.
The English champions, fifth in the Premier League, have suffered 15 defeats in all competitions this season – the most in a single season since losing 18 games in 2014/15.
PSG, meanwhile, leads Ligue 1 and is well placed to defend its Champions League crown. “It’s difficult to talk about Liverpool,” Enrique told reporters on Tuesday. “Liverpool manager Arne Slot speaks very well about them.
READ | PSG vs Lens postponed until May 13 as LFP prioritizes the Champions League and UEFA coefficients
«My opinion is that it is both the same team and a different team. Everyone is trying to figure out who the favorites are, but in these types of matches that doesn’t mean anything. It will be difficult for both teams.»
«Showing every year that we are still in the race and playing against Liverpool is always positive. We want to reach the semi-finals; we know how difficult it will be, but we are very motivated.»
The draw is a repeat of last season’s round of 16, when PSG knocked out Liverpool on penalties.
“Last year everyone said it was Liverpool and PSG went ahead,” said the Spaniard.
This time, Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike will also face his former club.
The 23-year-old France international has had an impressive first season in England, scoring 17 goals and providing six assists in 43 games.
Ekitike spent a short spell at PSG between 2023 and 2024, but found it difficult to find minutes in a squad that included Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.
“After he left here, he did very well in Germany and at Liverpool,” added Luis Enrique. «He is now an international player and has made great progress. He was very young when he was here; he has improved a lot.»
Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz did not train with the team on Monday due to an injury, but French winger Bradley Barcola did due to an ankle problem.
Published on April 7, 2026
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/stephen-colbert-byron-allen-040726-84e3681f1e4d44098744cffa480dfb98.jpg?w=238&resize=238,178&ssl=1 "¿Quién reemplazará el espacio ‘Late Night’ de Stephen Colbert en CBS? Todo sobre Byron Allen y sus programas de comedia.")
