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Luis Enrique says Paris Saint-Germain cannot afford to relax before their Champions League last-16 second leg against Chelsea, despite taking a 5-2 lead from the opening match. PSG hold a three-goal advantage, but the head coach made clear that the tie remains alive because momentum in this competition can shift quickly.
Paris Saint-Germain’s position was strengthened by a late surge in the first leg, but Luis Enrique’s comments show he is treating the return fixture as a separate challenge rather than the conclusion of a comfortable tie.
PSG’s First-Leg Lead Was Built Late Against Chelsea
PSG won the first leg 5-2, yet the margin was not established until the closing stages. The match was level at 2-2 before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia came off the bench and changed the game.
Kvaratskhelia set up Vitinha to restore PSG’s lead and then scored twice himself as the French champions opened up a three-goal cushion. That late swing turned a tight contest into a commanding position, but it also explains why Luis Enrique has warned against complacency.
The PSG coach said his side have an advantage, but stressed that it can disappear in an instant. He also described Champions League matches as impossible to control fully, pointing to the need to manage difficult spells and react when momentum turns.
Luis Enrique Expects A Different Second Leg
Luis Enrique’s message before the return game was shaped by the level of the opponent as much as the scoreline. He said PSG must focus on important details against a team of the same level and insisted it is impossible to let their guard down in the Champions League.
That assessment suggests PSG expect Chelsea to create chances even from a difficult position. Luis Enrique also said the second leg is likely to be different from the first, underlining that knockout matches often develop in a new way once the aggregate situation changes.
His language was measured rather than alarmist. PSG are in control of the tie, but the manager’s point was that control in Europe is never permanent.
PSG’s Record Under Luis Enrique Supports Their Position
Paris Saint-Germain’s recent numbers in the competition reinforce why they are clear favourites to progress. PSG have won 66.7% of their Champions League knockout-stage matches under Luis Enrique, taking 12 victories from 18 games.
The Opta supercomputer assigns PSG a 94% chance of reaching the quarter-finals, reflecting both the first-leg result and the club’s broader level in Europe under the current coach.
PSG have also developed a strong recent record against Premier League opposition. The Parisiens are unbeaten in their last five Champions League matches against English teams, with four wins and one draw. Another positive result against Chelsea would make it six consecutive games without defeat against English opposition in the competition for the first time.
Chelsea Face A Familiar PSG Side Comfortable Against English Clubs
PSG are also attempting to advance from a fourth straight knockout tie against English opponents, having previously faced Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal last season. That sequence adds context to Luis Enrique’s remarks about English clubs.
The PSG coach said his earlier comments about beating Premier League sides had been a joke, while also adding that it is a pleasure to face English teams because of the level they bring. He made clear that PSG respect Chelsea despite their first-leg advantage.
That balance defines the tone before the second leg. Paris Saint-Germain have a significant lead, strong recent numbers and home confidence in Europe, but Luis Enrique is framing the match around discipline rather than comfort.