Trailing 2–0, without Dembélé due to injury, and having missed a penalty, PSG still managed to turn the game around against Monaco (3–2) in the first leg of their Champions League playoff. Luis Enrique praised his team’s mental strength, defended Désiré Doué, the hero of the night, and gave cautious updates about his winger’s condition.
After finishing 11th in the league phase and qualifying for the playoffs, PSG traveled to Monaco for the first leg. The match started very badly for Paris, conceding two goals in less than twenty minutes. The night became even tougher when Ousmane Dembélé went off injured before the half-hour mark. The introduction of Désiré Doué helped spark a comeback, with PSG leveling before halftime and eventually winning 3–2. The dramatic victory gives them an edge ahead of the return leg in Paris, and Luis Enrique highlighted his squad’s mentality after the match.
Strong Mental Response After a Poor Start
“When a team starts like that, the most normal outcome is to lose the match. It’s impossible to feel confident after such a beginning. Monaco scored with their first two chances. It’s difficult to build confidence when you’re two goals behind. These are special moments. But we showed our level mentally. We even missed a penalty, which could have helped restore confidence. I’m happy with the result and with what we showed. Still, it’s a shame we didn’t score a fourth goal, especially against a team reduced to ten men,” said the coach.
The Paris manager also addressed Dembélé’s injury after an early knock. He stressed that no risks were taken and that medical tests would determine the exact problem. He also praised Doué, recently criticized, for his decisive impact off the bench, highlighting his personality and character. Luis Enrique thanked the supporters for their constant backing despite the early deficit and dedicated the win to them. Despite the comeback, he admitted some frustration over missed chances after Monaco’s red card and concluded that the second leg in Paris will be a completely different and difficult challenge. Reflecting on the moment his team was down 2–0, he added with irony: “I wanted to go home with my wife and kids.”
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