“The coach of “Bayern” answered the questions of journalists before the Champions League match”, — write: sport.ua
– What is the recipe for victory over PSG?
– How to beat PSG? I don’t know! We have to believe, because we are playing against the European champions, who are always favorites this season. It is still a challenge to overcome. We have to believe in our chances.
We learned a lot last season playing them and this season we learned even more about PSG. We have spent many hours preparing for this match, and analyzing the other team’s style of play very well.
– What aspect of PSG’s game impresses you the most?
– It’s all about the team, its readiness to run, either with the ball or after losing it. I think when PSG is playing well, there is no point in focusing on one particular player. This is not PSG’s main strength.
PSG have always had world-class players, but their strength is teamwork, and that’s what makes the match interesting. The match will be intense; both teams have excellent qualities and it will all depend on the details.
– How will you manage to restrain Nuna Mendes?
– PSG has an individual component, because you can mention Mendes, Hakimi, Dembele, winner of the Golden Ball. This list can be continued indefinitely. Their strength is that they work as a team.
It’s only for Mendesh; he is a player who excels in the open court against teams where the playing field is level. It is matches like these that improve his game. We also have our strengths – players who are able to play in a similar situation.
– What type of match are you expecting?
– Last season we already played with PSG: we won once, we lost once, but the score could have been different. That’s it. If everyone is fit, as we are and PSG, we will have an interesting Champions League match.
– Do you consider this match to be the biggest test of your career against a team that has improved significantly since your previous meetings?
– In what areas did the team improve? If you look at results alone last season, PSG struggled in the Champions League but won Ligue 1. However, if you look at the game, this was a team that dominated every match, deserved to win, and the results did not reflect what they achieved later.
PSG was already very strong in 2024. They have young players, which is an advantage, because they can always progress. This is a team that is still learning how to play together. Matches against them are always equal. Over time, we see progress because the team is already formed and we try to do the same.
– What is your opinion about Luis Enrique’s work?
– PSG is a club with a revolutionary idea. He managed to bring it to life with the help of young players. Even the players he brought in are already strong, and in five or six years they will become even better. We can always talk about tactics and strategy, but I think it’s not easy to change so many things, especially after being criticized in the beginning.
When they lost to us in November, the French journalists criticized him, and in the end he became the best coach! This is a great story. The way Luis Enrique managed to turn things around and develop the club is impressive.
– Is Dayot Upamecano among the top three defenders in the world?
– I don’t like to compare; I always think my players are better than others – I’m biased! Ta Upa has always been a key player for our team and we missed him in the Champions League quarter-finals last season. He is a player who represents huge value to us, is progressing and takes his leadership role seriously. I see that he is happy and that is the most important thing.
