Luis Enrique knows all about the Anfield atmosphere, as he once went there as a fan.
The Spaniard takes his PSG team to Liverpool with what looks like a comfortable 2-0 quarter-final Champions League lead.
However, Anfield is known for it’s comebacks, and ahead of the game Luis Enrique was reminded of the fact he went to Liverpool in his younger days as a fan.
Is Luis Enrique a Liverpool fan?
“How do you know that?” he responded to a question about watching the Merseyside derby in ‘The Kop’ in the early 2000s.
“I can no longer remember the course of the match, but I enjoyed the atmosphere immensely.
“I really wanted to experience it live once after I had retired as a player. It was fantastic; Anfield is one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world.”
It turns out he received tickets from Liverpool great and friend Luis Garcia.
“That was incredibly kind of him,” the PSG boss commented. “The experience I had there was very different from what I experienced as a player.”
Can Liverpool comeback vs PSG?
He added on a potential comeback: “When you play at home with your fans, it’s easier, you’re stronger.
“We know how difficult it is to play in this stadium, but it’s a motivation for us.
“It’s a tricky match because nobody can see the difference between the two teams, but you’ll see it tomorrow.
“Normally, when you play the beginning of the match it can be important, but in modern football the score can change within 5 minutes.
“It’s important to start the match well, but it won’t be the key to the match.
“For me, it’s a tricky match, but football and matches change very quickly.
“You have to be focused because you can concede a goal very quickly.
“The match will be very different from the first leg. We need to know how to manage difficult moments and then play our game as usual, playing our football and not come here defending the result.”
Key Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai later took to the stage and warned Luis Enrique about the atmosphere.
“We’re ready to die on the pitch,” he said. “Anfield will have a big impact tomorrow.
“We’ve seen it often this season and in previous seasons. We know what it’s like to play for Liverpool, to play at Anfield in front of these fans, we know what it’s like.”
No concerns for PSG
One of his rivals on the pitch isn’t so worried, though.
“I think tomorrow will be a very important match for us,” Achraf Hakimi said.
“We will have to pay attention to every detail and be ready to give our all.
“I think the difference compared to last year is that we have more confidence.
“We are the reigning champions and we know how to manage this type of match.
“I think PSG fans are among the best in the world. We’ll feel their support and we hope we’ll put on a good show for them.”
Leave a Reply