Enrique: Facing Barcelona is not a final match, and we must prevent Yamal from receiving the ball

Luis Enrique, the head coach of Paris Saint-Germain, has confirmed the difficulty of facing FC Barcelona, scheduled for tomorrow Tuesday at the Parc des Princes in the third round of the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. He emphasized that his team aims to stop the winning streak of the Catalan club, while also stating that the match is not a final at this early stage of the tournament.

Enrique said: "The nature of the tournament system means we face each other at this stage, but it is not a final match; the competition is still in its early stages."

Paris Saint-Germain's coach spoke about Lamine Yamal, saying: "I think what Lamine is doing very well is that he wants to be Lamine Yamal. He is developing aspects of his performance. Comparing him to Messi, the best player of all time, against any other player would not be in favor of any other player. Lamine wants to be the best version of Lamine, and it is better that he does not compare himself to others. He is very smart."

Regarding how to stop the Spanish winger, he explained: "It's very simple, we must not allow him to receive the ball, because he becomes a source of danger if he gets it. The best way to defend against Lamine is to not let FC Barcelona have the ball; that is our goal, but it won't be that easy, as we are aware of the difficulty of playing against FC Barcelona."

He added: "We know they have players with high quality, and it's not just Lamine, there are Raphinha, Pedri, Kobarsi, Juan García, and others. We must maintain our focus and attention, and we have to outperform them through teamwork."

The Spanish coach discussed the expected playing style, stating: "Hansi Flick has improved the results and imposed a style similar to what he applied at Bayern Munich; we will have to attack if we want to win, we have the motivation to take the ball from them, and this is a big challenge for us."

He continued: "Controlling possession will be key, we are facing a team that has the same mentality and philosophy that we have, which is to provide attractive football and always seek to score, we will see what happens tomorrow."

Paris Saint-Germain's coach praised FC Barcelona, stating: "I have previously played for and coached Barcelona, and I have a strong connection to Catalonia, as my children are Catalans. For me, Barcelona is the team most similar to Paris Saint-Germain."

Regarding Pedri, he said: "He is like Harry Potter, and I hope he doesn't use his magic wand tomorrow; we will try to limit his impact, but Barcelona also has other great players."

The Spanish coach confirmed that FC Barcelona's unbeaten record serves as an additional motivation for his team, stating: "This represents an incentive for us, we want to be the only team that can defeat FC Barcelona this season."

He added: "It doesn't matter who will participate from the players of FC Barcelona, we already know them, each player has different characteristics, and when we see the lineup, we can delve deeper into the details, we have to handle these situations as a team."

Regarding his team's condition, he said: "I am proud of my players, regardless of the result. We have a strong character, and that is what I like whether at the Parc des Princes or away. What makes me happy as a coach is the team's identity and character in general; it is wonderful for me."

The player talked about the preparations for the match, stating: "Our preparation for the game is similar to our preparation for any other match. We know FC Barcelona, and I love watching their matches and adore their style of play. The match will be difficult due to the quality of their players, and small details could make the difference."

He added: "Both teams have outstanding individual players, but victory must be achieved collectively. The players of FC Barcelona have a strong sense of belonging, and I know we will witness a great match."

When asked about the social unrest in France, he replied: "I am not the right person to talk about this matter, it concerns society, what I do not want is this kind of violence, and I am only focusing on the match, I am just a football coach."

Luis Enrique also touched on his relationship with FC Barcelona, where he played and managed for six years, saying: "I am a member of Barcelona, and I was a player and coach for six years, three years with the first team and three years with the second team. My wife and children are Catalans, and I am very connected to Barcelona, but I am a fan of Paris Saint-Germain."