Luis Enrique is as motivated as ever before the UEFA Super Cup.
Paris face Aston Villa today in Salzburg after back-to-back Champions League wins.
Due to their success, PSG had floods of players at the World Cup, and only got the majority back this week.
In fact, many of those who featured in the semi-final for France won’t travel.
PSG even started pre-season with just nine first team players and were then smashed 3-0 by Spanish second tier side Real Mallorca.
Yet before taking on Europa League winners Villa, Luis Enrique wasn’t phased.
Luis Enrique refuses to play down expectations
“I don’t think there’s a team in Europe more motivated than us,” he said.
“When people tell me, ‘You’ve won a lot of titles,’ it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s in the past.”
However, he did admit that pre-season had at least been unusual.
“It’s a surreal situation, I didn’t have any players,” he added.
“Some players only just returned this Monday: the French, Spanish, and Moroccan players. The Brazilian and Portuguese players returned last week.
“I don’t know what level my players will be at tomorrow after their rest at home.
“In the preseason matches, we had a lot of players who weren’t there. It’s difficult to assess who will play.”
PSG target Champions League three-peat
Even if things don’t go well against Villa, the Spanish coach has the highest aims for the rest of the season in Europe.
“We have a unique challenge: to equal Real Madrid by winning a third consecutive Champions League,” he said.
“I don’t think there’s a team in Europe more motivated than us.
“We set very ambitious goals from the start and we’re going to continue like that.
“Right now it’s a different, unique situation, because I think everyone believes we can still win…
“But that’s the theory. Then we have to show what our level is. We have to show on the pitch that we have the ability.
“Of course we’re looking to win again, but if you look at history, it’s not easy to have a team that wins all the time.”
Showing how engrained that mentality is, PSG’s players echoed those words.
“Aiming for the treble? That’s our goal,” captain Marquinhos said.
“We know how difficult it is, how tough it is. Just because we’ve won a lot of things in the last two seasons doesn’t mean it was easy.
“We know the road ahead is full of obstacles and obstacles. We’ll take it one step at a time.
“First of all, we have a goal on Wednesday. It’s a very important goal, even if we haven’t had many training sessions, we’re hungry. We want it.
“When you have an opportunity to play for a title, you have to take it and not let it slip away.
“Personally, I’m increasingly focused on winning. I think all the players on our team feel the same way.
“And even though we haven’t had much preparation, even during the holidays and on our own, some of us have been preparing to arrive here and be ready to give our all in Wednesday’s match.
“While balancing rest, holidays, and preparation time, the team on the pitch on Wednesday will give 100% to try and get the win.”
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