The general stage of the UEFA Champions League is heating up, and today - January 20th - is another test night for PSG. The Parisians will face Sporting in the 7th round. Before the match, team head coach Luis Enrique made an unexpected but very logical statement: victory is important, but the "most perfect scenario" doesn't always come with victory.
Enrique emphasized that winning this match is primarily crucial for the team's confidence and inner spirit. In the Champions League, if several matches go positively in a row, the whole team feels different: decisions are faster, freedom in attack appears, and confidence in defense increases. In this sense, the victory over Sporting is an important step for the Parisians.
But Enrique also openly stated one "paradox" at this point: if the team enters the top 8, they won't play in the playoff round. That is, the additional playoff stage, where 9-24th-ranked clubs play, won't be for PSG. At first glance, this is only a plus: there are no unnecessary games, energy is saved, and the risk of injury is reduced. But the coach also pointed to the other side.
He believes that sometimes extra play also provides practice. That is, the team matures once again in the "hot heat" of important matches, does not lose rhythm, and continuously maintains the atmosphere of the tournament. This can be particularly beneficial for teams with an underdeveloped playing style. Enrique says "top-8 is our goal," but his saying "this might not always be good for us" leads to exactly this point: sometimes more game - more preparation, more testing, more hardening.
As a reminder, according to the Champions League regulations, the top eight teams in the general stage will advance directly to the Round of 16. The 9th-24th places will play each other in the playoff round and then advance to the 1/8 finals. Thus, the value of each point is doubled: firstly, it strengthens your position in the table, and secondly, it determines how many "extra obstacles" there will be in the next stage.
Currently, PSG is in third place in the league table. This place is a great opportunity, but Enrique's words suggest that he is thinking not only about the result, but also about the logistics of post-result preparation. For the Parisians, today's game is not just a matter of 3 points, but another turning point that will determine the roadmap for the tournament.
Regardless of how the evening against Sporting will end, one thing is clear: Luis Enrique is leading PSG not just according to the table, but according to real scenarios leading to the championship. And the fans, naturally, expect one thing: victory and a reliable game.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
