Paris Saint-Germain will face Real Sociedad on Tuesday, holding a 2-0 aggregate lead in their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie. No lead is safe in the competition with the capital club, but this is their first second-leg match under manager Luis Enrique.
Enrique spoke with reporters on Monday before the contest and noted how he intends to navigate the situation to ensure they advance to the quarterfinals. PSG could benefit from scoring a goal or two to secure the victory. Real Sociedad has not scored more than two goals in a match since December 2023.
“We handle it with a lot of normality,” Enrique told reporters (h/t Paris Fans). “I think the scenario is very attractive—the city and the competition to experience it eagerly—and I see that the moment is coming. After this press conference, we will enjoy a special training session, the one you have before the match.”
Naturally, the media asked the 53-year-old about his expectations for Kylian Mbappé. Last Friday, the Frenchman was once again substituted out of the game. Instead of staying on the bench, he went up into the stands.
“What I hope from the team is that they show up,” Enrique added. “They need to be able to face the match like we have done throughout the season. I see the whole team with confidence, so we have a clear objective: to win the match. Winning against Real Sociedad is going to be very complicated.”
Following all the drama PSG has faced since their first-leg victory, it will be intriguing to see if the team can tune out distractions and focus on their match against Real Sociedad.
