Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has expressed pride in his players’ mentality after they secured a 2-0 win over Liverpool to advance in the UEFA Champions League.
Enrique’s men made it into back-to-back Champions League semi-final on Tuesday after Dembele’s brace powered them to a 4-0 aggregate victory against the Reds.
He admitted that the Anfield atmosphere was difficult for his team as they waited until the 72nd minute to break Liverpool’s defence and secure their lead.
“It was a great victory. I think we deserved to qualify over the two legs,” Enrique said after the game.
“What makes me most proud of this team is the mentality, which we showed to all the fans in this legendary stadium.
“When we see the support from our fans, it’s incredible. We’re very happy for them, and now we wait to see who we will play in the semi-finals.”
In his assessment, Enrique described PSG’s first-half at Anfield as the best period of the game despite not finding the back of the net.
“I’m particularly pleased with what we did in the first half,” he added. “We tried to control the game by playing in the opponent’s half, and for me, that was our best period of the match.
“In the second half, it was very difficult because we took a lot of risks and it was tough.
“We tried to play on the counterattack, and after the first and second goals, we were able to play with more control in the final minutes.”
Nuno Mendes & Doue injury update
Enrique downplayed the severity of Nuno Mendes and Desire Doue’s injuries after both players limped off in Tuesday’s win.
Mendes left the game early in the 37th minute while Doue was replaced in the 51st minute after he was pushed towards the advertising boards.
On the injuries, Enrique said: “It’s nothing serious, but I’m not a doctor.
“With this intensity in this kind of match, it is normal to have problems. We’ll see exactly what it is they’ve picked up.”
