Luis Enrique likens Girona match to childbirth as PSG claim slender victory

PARIS – Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique confessed that he found it difficult to watch his team's narrow victory over Girona in the Champions League on Sept 18.

PSG secured victory after Girona’s goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, who had thwarted numerous efforts from the French champions, made a calamitous error in the final minutes of the match to give the hosts a 1-0 win.

“I think we were superior, but Girona played us in circles and made us dizzy. At half-time, we said that if we didn’t press, we were going to suffer. We had to win, and it was very difficult,” Enrique told Movistar Plus.

“It was very difficult. I told (Girona manager) Michel that this was worse than giving birth, with all due respect.”

PSG had over 60 per cent possession and 24 attempts on goal but looked set to be left frustrated by their opponents at the Parc des Princes until a low Nuno Mendes cross squirmed under Gazzaniga and into the net in the 90th minute.

It was a harsh ending to their Champions League bow for Girona, who qualified for Europe for the first time in their history after a historic third-place finish in La Liga last season.

PSG missed chance after chance in the second half and looked set to draw another continental blank, just like in their semi-final defeat by Borussia Dortmund last season when they somehow failed to score in either leg.

However, the late goal allowed Enrique’s team to continue their perfect start to the campaign as they aim to go further than last season’s run to the semis and win European football’s biggest prize for the first time.

“Girona defended very well and showed why last season they led La Liga for so long. They are a better team than many in the second or third pot of seeds, even in the first pot,” added Enrique.

“But we were much better in the second half. We got a bit of luck with the goal but I think we deserved the victory.”

Under the new Champions League format, teams play eight matches against eight different opponents, with the top eight sides in the 36-team league automatically advancing to the last 16, and the next 16 playing a further knockout round.

Enrique observed that the format creates uncertainty about the significance of results.

“Winning a match or any title is difficult, but we don’t know the dimension of this competition with this format,” he said.

“We are going to have to play matches against teams that have easier schedules than ours. How many points are we going to need? There are many unknowns that need to be cleared up.”

Despite the victory, PSG suffered a setback as striker Marco Asensio limped off just before half-time. Enrique was confident, however, in the strength of his squad.

“He felt a twinge. Marco had started the season well. This is professional football, and we have a very good squad,” he said, as he looked ahead to their next match against Reims away in Ligue 1 on Sept 21. , AFP