PSG coach Luis Enrique believes his team is more confident than last year ahead of their Champions League opener against Atalanta.

PSG is set to kick off their Champions League defense against Atalanta on Wednesday, and Luis Enrique is feeling optimistic about the team’s chances. According to Enrique, PSG is more confident now than they were last year when they won the UCL title. “We have more confidence than last year at this point in the Champions League,” Enrique said.

The confidence boost comes from the team’s experience of winning the Champions League last year. Enrique believes that the first title is always the most difficult to win because players don’t think they’re capable of it. However, now that they’ve shown the way, all the players, especially the young ones, want to win because they know they can do it.

PSG will be without Ousmane Dembele and Désiré Doué due to injuries, but they’re hopeful that Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will be able to play despite suffering a calf injury in the win over Lens last Saturday. Captain Marquinhos has full faith in Bradley Barcola to step up and deliver in the absence of Dembele and Doué.

“Bradley is never a surprise to us,” Marquinhos said, “he has always been very decisive for us, especially in times when we needed him.”

The team has started the season strongly, with four wins from four in Ligue 1. Barcola’s double in the win over Lens showcased his talent and ability to score important goals. Marquinhos emphasized that while Barcola will play a key role, the team shouldn’t put all the pressure on him. Other key players like Fabian Ruiz, Achraf Hakimi, and Nuno Mendes have also scored crucial goals in the past.

Enrique believes that PSG can go on to win the Champions League again. Despite Liverpool and Barcelona being the bookmakers’ favorites, Enrique is determined to prove them wrong. “For me, it’s more difficult to win the first than the second or third,” Enrique said.