Luis Enrique in awe of Simeone energy ahead of reunion

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique was full of praise for his former rival Diego Simeone as he prepares to go head-to-head with the Atletico Madrid boss in the Champions League.

PSG and Atletico, who reached the semi-finals and the quarter-finals respectively last season, will face off on Wednesday having both won just one of their three league-phase games.

A home victory would boost PSG, currently 19th with four points, while Atletico, languishing in 27th on three, are aiming to recover from back-to-back losses.

PSG have never faced Atletico in the Champions League before but Luis Enrique’s Barcelona defeated Simeone’s Atletico side nine times in their 14 meetings between 2014 and 2017, drawing twice and losing three times.

Luis Enrique led Barca to a Champions League and LaLiga double in 2014-15 followed by another league title the following year.

“We’ve played against each other as players and then as managers. I admire Simeone, when a coach can stay for so many years at a top club it means he is great because that is such a difficult thing to do,” Luis Enrique told reporters on Tuesday.

Simeone has managed Atletico for 13 years, guiding them to two LaLiga titles and two Europa League crowns, though the Madrid side had considered hiring Luis Enrique prior to Simeone’s arrival.

“I had given my word to another club. If I had gone to Atleti, I would not have stayed half as long as Simeone because I don’t have the energy as him,” added Luis Enrique.

“They are lucky to have found Simeone as a coach. You need a lot of energy, to be able to convince all your players over the long-term.”

Back to work and back to the @ChampionsLeague! #PSGATM | #UCL pic.twitter.com/1kMjJKZ0B4

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) November 4, 2024

PSG, having lost Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid in the close season, have just two goals in their three Champions League games, beating Girona 1-0 but drawing 1-1 with PSV and losing 2-0 at Arsenal.

“I have no doubt we can improve in defence and attack, whether it is with the defender duos of Marquinhos and Willian Pacho, or Milan Skriniar and Lucas Beraldo, or in the midfield,” Luis Enrique said.

“I understand you want to discuss individual players, but we analyse things from a broader perspective.

“What interests me is to always generate goalscoring opportunities and to arrive in the penalty area because you have managed to be stronger than your opponent.

“That is my objective as a coach: to always generate opportunities.”

Close-season signing Matvey Safonov, who kept a clean sheet in their opening win against Girona, might replace number one goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, whose mistakes proved costly at Arsenal and against PSV.

“You will find out tomorrow. After a good cup of cappuccino, I will decide who the goalkeeper is,” Luis Enrique said.