Champions League: PSG's Enrique calls for ambition in Barcelona last eight clash
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique urged his players to forget the pressure of reaching the latter stages of the Champions League and be ambitious during the first leg of their last eight clash against Barcelona on Wednesday night.
The French league leaders go into the game at the Parc des Princes seeking a place in the semi-final of European club football's most prestigious tournament for the first time since 2021.
They enjoy rude health in the top flight courtesy of a 10-point lead over second-placed Brest and are also through to the final of the Coupe de France.
"I hope that our ambition overcomes the pressure," Enrique said on the eve of the game against a club he steered to Champions League glory in 2015.
"We aren't feeling pressure at the moment," added Enrique. "We are very excited to play at this level and we are trying to qualify for the next round."
Enrique rested the majority of his first choice players for Saturday's visit of Clermont in Ligue 1. But after seeing his side fall behind to Habib Keita's first-half opener, the 53-year-old Spaniard was forced to introduce skipper Marquinhos, midfielder Lee Kang-in and striker Kylian Mbappé mid way through the second-half as his side tried to recover the deficit.
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Despite the lavish sums spent on star players such as Edinson Cavani, Neymar, Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Mbappé, teams have faltered in the Champions League.
"And now that attitude has got us here to the quarter-finals," he insisted.
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