Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique remains highly optimistic ahead of their return to domestic competition, despite their midweek Champions League loss to Bayern Munich.
The French champions suffered a narrow loss to the Bavarians on Tuesday, dropping to 25th in the new 36-team Champions League standings and sitting four points outside the playoff spots.
With three defeats in five group-stage matches, this marks their worst group-stage campaign since 2004/2005, the last time they missed the knockouts.
Despite the setback, Enrique has urged his players to shift focus to maintaining their strong Ligue 1 form as they prepare to host Nantes on Saturday.
“From what we saw, it was positive. We played against a contender for the final away from home,” Luis Enrique said.
“I liked what I saw, despite everything, there are always points to improve. But it’s important to stay positive.
“Bayern are one of the favourites to win the final. We applied the same pressure as usual. I tried to change things.
“I haven’t seen a team that has troubled them more than us this season.
“I feel confident. We should have nine points in the Champions League. I’m not hiding behind that. I liked what I saw in Munich. I’m very optimistic.”
PSG currently top the Ligue 1 standings with 32 points from 12 games so far this season and stand a huge chance of returning to winning ways given their impressive record against this weekend’s opponents.
However, despite sitting 16th in the table, Luis Enrique believes Nantes’ performances this season have merited more points than the 10 they have managed so far.
“(Nantes) have fewer points than the team deserves. They’re coming into the game on a run of (four league) defeats, but I’m expecting a tough game,” he added.
“We need to keep racking up wins and get into good habits with a view to the Champions League.”
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
