Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has demanded a far more controlled and dominant performance when his side face Tottenham Hotspur in Wednesday’s Champions League showdown.
The PSG boss wants a stronger display than the one seen in August, when his team needed a dramatic comeback and penalties to win the UEFA Super Cup.
PSG trailed 2-0 in Udine after goals from Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, but late strikes from Lee Kang-in and Gonçalo Ramos forced a shootout.
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The French champions eventually claimed the trophy 4-3 on spot-kicks.
That match came only weeks after PSG’s heavy 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup final, leaving Enrique with little time to rebuild confidence.
His preparations were made even tougher by uncertainty around Gianluigi Donnarumma’s future, with the goalkeeper left out of the squad before completing a move to Manchester City.
Despite winning the Super Cup, Enrique admitted he was unhappy with the level of control shown for large periods of the match.
Enrique demands dominance from the opening whistle
Speaking ahead of the reunion at the Parc des Princes, Enrique said this week’s clash should be very different thanks to a longer preparation period and clearer focus.
He described the Champions League as PSG’s “competition” and insisted his players are motivated to defend their crown.
The Spaniard praised Tottenham’s unbeaten start in Europe and highlighted their strong pool of internationals, reports ESPN.
However, he underlined that PSG plan to dictate the tempo from the start and deliver a more complete performance for home fans.
Enrique also hopes to welcome back Ousmane Dembélé after injury. The winger has returned to training and will be included in the squad if he suffers no setback.
PSG sit fifth in the League Phase with nine points, while Spurs are 10th with eight.
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