Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona are set to face off in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. It’s the first time these two teams will meet in the knockout stage since 2021.
In this game, PSG manager Luis Enrique will be up against his former club, and it’s also noteworthy for the return of Ousmane Dembélé. Before the first leg, Rafael Yuste, vice president of Barcelona, had a chat with CANAL+ about the draw and shared his initial thoughts on the matchup.
Yuste revealed his admiration for Enrique and noted how the team intends to navigate the two legs since he knows their manager, Xavi Hernandez, so well, having coached the player.
“He’s a friend, a great individual, and a great coach,” Yuste told the French media outlet (h/t Paris Fans). “We saw his vision clearly at Barça, where he won 5 titles. I can’t wish him luck for the match (smiling). Please give him my warm regards. There are always some little secrets; we hope to surprise him.”
Furthermore, Barcelona will need to contend with Kylian Mbappé, who, the last time he played in the city, scored a hat-trick.
“He’s a dangerous player, but I always prefer to talk about a team,” Yuste added. “PSG has a great team, a very competitive group.”
The winner of this matchup will face either Atletico Madrid or Borussia Dortmund, so a victory will have PSG or Barcelona on a clear path to the final in London.
