Luis Enrique: 'I enjoy Hansi Flick's Barça'
This FC Barcelona v PSG Champions League matchday two fixture is definitely one to watch. The current champions with former blaugrana Luis Enrique at the helm are visiting a Barça side looking to win it themselves this year. The media are following every event surrounding the match and that includes the press conference attended by both coach and the player Achraf Hakimi on Montjuïc.
"It's always special and nice to come back to Barcelona. It's my home", expressed the París Saint-Germain coach to around 100 hundred members of the press at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Expressing his affection for the blaugrana style, Luis Enrique said "I love Hansi Flick's team, I enjoy it because it is in line with FC Barcelona's footballing ideals. They aren't ponderous, they attack, press, and play a very high line. I always watch because I am am a member and I will be a culer forever".
Two teams with a similar mindset
Barça and PSG definitely play in very similar ways, with Achraf Hakim and Luis Enrique both agreeing that the key to the game will be who is more accurate in possession. "There isn't much to choose between the two. We are two teams with a lot of character on the ball, we like being in possession. We like to hunt the ball, whoever has the ball most will have more options to create chances", analysed the French team's right back.
Missing players no excuse
"We aim for balance in defence and attack. We'll see two attacking teams, who take risks and who know how to defend with the ball. It will be a nice game to watch", indicated Luis Enrique. Neither he nor Hakimi wanted to use the absences of Marquinhos, Doué, Dembélé and Kvaratskhelia as an excuse. Both emphasised their confidence in the team that will take to the Estadi Olímpic pitch, with the full back stating "We are ready to win against FC Barcelona and perform well", while the coach added "We don't want any excuses because of those missing, we want results".
Praise for Pedri and Lamine Yamal
Albeit the questions revolved about the unavailable players, Pedri and Lamine Yamal were the focus when it came to questions about the blaugranes. The coach had some special words for the Canary Island midfielder, who he knows well after hie time as Spain coach, stating "He is amazing, I really like watching Barça with players like him playing. He's like Harry Potter to me, I hope he doesn't use his wand. But Barça are more than just Pedri, they have many top players like Cubarsí, Frenkie de Jong and Lamine Yamal".
Hakimi highlighted the importance of midfield and PSG's collective nature when stymieing the blaugranes' attacking approach, stating "Most play goes on in midfield and it's where games are decided. I will try to bring experience and speed to help the team". A collective approach that will also be there to support Nuno Mendes, with the full back continuing "Lamine Yamal will have to face the best full back in the world. Nuno Mendes can stop him. Our strength as a team comes from our support and we will help him so he isn't one on one. We know what Lamine Yamal is capable of".
Luis Enrique and Hakimi definitely both summed up this Barça v PSG very well. "It will be a nice game to watch with two teams with an attacking mindset", but the coach also clarified that "It is an important game, but not decisive". This Champions League matchday two fixture is all set up to be a cracker.