Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) face Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in a crucial Champions League semi-final second-leg clash at the Parc des Princes, trailing 1-0 from their first-leg encounter in Germany.
Niclas Fullkrug’s early goal secured Dortmund’s advantage in the first leg, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown in Paris. PSG are eager to reverse the 1-0 deficit to reach their first Champions League final since 2020.
The French giants, led by the dynamic Kylian Mbappe, are determined to thwart Dortmund’s aspirations of European glory.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final second-leg cracker, PSG manager, Luis Enrique, emphasised the importance of a focused mindset, urging his players not to dwell on the need for a two-goal victory but to concentrate on securing a win, regardless of the margin.
“The objective is not to play to win by two goals, it is just to win. You can’t afford to think about having to win by two goals,” Enrique told reporters on Monday.
“We need to score one first of all, and win the match.”
Ahead of the encounter, Enrique stresses the importance of strategic positioning for star players like Mbappe, aiming to maximize their impact in crucial areas of the pitch.
PSG are looking to repeat their heroics in the quarter-finals when they lost 3-2 at home to Barcelona in the first leg but qualified with a 4-1 win in the return despite conceding the opening goal in Spain.
“It doesn’t matter if we concede — it happened against Barcelona — we’ll just need to stay calm,” the Spaniard added.
Mbappe has scored 43 goals for PSG this season, including two in the second leg against Real Sociedad in the last 16, and two more away in Barcelona, but struggled to make a major impact in Dortmund last week.
“Our objective is that our best players participate. The more they take part in the game the better it is,” he said.
“But I want my strikers to be touching the ball in the areas where they can make a difference. I want him to get on the ball where he can be dangerous.”
Meanwhile, Dortmund enter the contest fresh from a Bundesliga victory, showcasing their depth and versatility.
PSG, benefiting from a weekend respite, will prioritise preparation for the crucial encounter.
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