"We will wait for Mr Mbappe to speak and then we will give our opinion"

PSG coach Luis Enrique highlighted the "maturity" of his team after they came from behind to beat Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final with a 4-1 win at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

"I saw a very mature and complete team, with a great desire to turn it around. We played a very complete game from start to finish. Our team has taken a step forward in maturity. Surely nobody gave us as favourites ahead of these semi-finals and we are there," said the Asturian in statements to 'Movistar Liga de Campeones'.

Luis Enrique highlighted his team's ability to react: "We started the game brilliantly. We knew it was going to be a game with goals. We were prepared for any scenario, even to concede despite the fact that Barca hadn't come close in the area for 12 minutes and they scored in a spectacular move by Lamine".

The Spanish coach avoided commenting on Araujo's sending off after 29 minutes: "I didn't see it and I'm not one to judge. For some people the sending off is clear, for others it's not; football is like that. I try not to put myself in the referee's shoes, protest little or not at all, and convey to my players the calmness to deal with the emotions that are running high in these matches".

On the other hand, Luis Enrique highlighted the difficulty of facing Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals, with whom he met in the group stage and who finished ahead of the French side in the standings.

"I had a meeting with their coach in the final, we'll see each other in the semi-finals. Borussia play very well. We've played two games and we know each other very well. They play very well, they create chances, they look for solutions with and without the ball, they press well... It's going to be an open semi-final," he added.

Luis Enrique also avoided commenting on the future of Mbappe, who scored a brace: "We're going to wait for Mr Kylian Mbappe to speak. When he speaks, the rest of us will give our opinion. Until the parties speak, it's like a trial: I'm a witness and I'm waiting for the parties to speak.

 

April 16, 2024