PSG are the defending champions, but their recent performances have been far from perfect and Enrique wants more from his team in the next round.
Luis Enrique is calling on his PSG players to find another gear after a close call in the Champions League. Even though the French giants moved past Monaco to reach the last 16, the manager admitted that the team needs to play much better if they want to keep their crown.
The second leg was a tense 2-2 draw that saw PSG advance 5-4 on aggregate.
Monaco actually took the lead and leveled the total score, putting the holders under immense pressure. A red card for Monaco early in the second half gave PSG the opening they needed to score twice, but even with ten men, Monaco nearly forced extra time in the final moments.
From beginning to end, thank you for the support. ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/Jxu9vNGxkZ
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) February 25, 2026
After the match, Luis Enrique was honest about the situation. He said that while he is happy to move on, his team has “considerable room for improvement.” He pointed out that PSG has faced a very difficult schedule this season, which has tested their resilience. However, he knows that just “squeezing through” won’t be enough in the later rounds.
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier, as PSG will face either Chelsea or Barcelona in the next round. Enrique joked that playing those teams might be easier than the battle they just had with Monaco, but he was quick to say that his squad is ready for any challenge. He remains confident that his players are the best prepared in the tournament.
There is a feeling among fans that PSG aren’t as dominant as they were last year. Last season, they famously thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 in the final. This year, they have already won three trophies, but all of them were won via penalty shootouts. This suggests that while they are finding ways to win, they aren’t “blowing teams away” like they used to.
Injuries have also played a major role in the team’s dip in form. The biggest concern is Ousmane Dembele, last year’s Ballon d’Or winner. After a massive 35-goal season last year, the star forward has struggled with fitness and has only scored 11 goals this time around. Getting him back to his best level is seen as the key to PSG’s success.
Despite these struggles, Enrique’s goal remains the same: to win every single trophy available.
