Champions League
Luis Enrique certain PSG will knock Barcelona out of Champions League
Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique feels confident about his side's chances
PSG to face Barcelona in the second leg of the quarter-finals on Tuesday
Enrique's side lost 3-2 to Barca in Paris in the first leg

By Katie Catherall
Apr 16, 2024
Enrique is convinced that PSG will succeed over Barcelona
Enrique is convinced that PSG will succeed over Barcelona / Franco Arland/GettyImages
Paris Saint Germain manager Luis Enrique is confident his side will knock out Barcelona in the Champions League, as they travel to Spain for the second leg quarter-finals.

The Ligue 1 side were unable to claim victory over Barcelona in Paris, losing 3-2 to Spanish champions.

Barca's win at Parc des Princes ended PSG's 27-game unbeaten streak in all competitions and Xavi's men are now on the verge of reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time in five years.

But speaking ahead of Tuesday's game, Enrique was confident his side would complete a comeback.

"PSG have never come back to win after losing a first leg, but [Tuesday] is the day," he said.

Kylian Mbappe
PSG will travel to Barcelona on Tuesday / Christian Liewig - Corbis/GettyImages
"After a defeat in such an important game, the days after the match were hard. It's tricky to recover mentally, but the good thing about football is you have another game against the same opponent.

"I thought we at least deserved a draw in the first match. We have to be better this time. We won't hold back. That phrase does not exist for us and we are convinced we will turn the tie around.

"We will press high and they will play long. I think [Marc-Andre] ter Stegen broke a record in the first leg for long passes with 24. I think this game will be similar. I think there will be goals. The 3-2 scoreline means we have to go for the game."

Enrique managed Barcelona from 2014 to 2017 and was in charge when they overturned a 4-0 defeat to PSG by beating them 6-1 in the return leg of their famous Champions League last 16 tie. He also said prior to last week's meeting that he understands Barca's DNA more than current head coach Xavi and will use this to his advantage.

On those comments, Enrique reaffirmed: "I maintain what I said about [Barca's DNA] because one defeat or one season is not going to change my mind on that."

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I’m buzzing – hat-trick hero Cole Palmer thanks Chelsea for opportunity to join

Cole Palmer is grateful for the opportunity Chelsea gave him to join the club after he celebrated successive home hat-tricks when he scored four times in the Blues’ 6-0 win over Everton.

The Manchester City academy graduate, who joined the Blues last summer, scored a spectacular individual goal to open the scoring.

Palmer scored a header and added a third when he capitalised on a Jordan Pickford error before converting a penalty in the second half. Nicolas Jackson and Alfie Gilchrist also got on the scoresheet as the Toffees came completely unstuck.

It was Palmer’s second home triple in a row, following his three goals against Manchester United earlier this month.

Palmer told Chelsea’s official website: “To make the decision to come to Chelsea was a big one for me and my family, but I just wanted to play football. I’m thankful to Chelsea for the opportunity and I’m buzzing.

“We started well and to score a hat-trick, I’m buzzing. I think the team needed that after last Sunday and some previous games. We did well tonight. It was a great game for the team and me.”

Palmer showed wonderful skill for his first goal after he jinked past Jarrad Branthwaite, receiving a flick-on from Jackson before he produced a first-time curled effort from outside the box into the bottom left-hand corner.

The 21-year-old added: “I think my first one was my favourite.

“My right-footed goal was a bit of a swinger, but my first one was probably my favourite. As an attacker, you always want to help the team with goals and assists, but my main focus was playing well and trying to get into the positions to score goals.”

Manager Mauricio Pochettino heaped praise on Palmer, who is now joint top in the Premier League’s Golden Boot race with Erling Haaland on 20 goals each.

He said: “I don’t judge the player when we sign (them) but I expected the best. It doesn’t surprise us, he’s a player who has had the capacity to score goals when he was playing at Manchester City. He has the capacity to score easily.

“The way he’s adapted, playing and performing is fantastic. He behaves like a top scorer and I think it’s amazing for the team and him.”

5 occasions team-mates have clashed following Nicolas Jackson-Noni Madueke spat

Chelsea pair Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke are not the first team-mates to clash on a football pitch.

Cole Palmer’s four-goal haul in the Blues’ 6-0 win over Everton on Monday was overshadowed by what boss Mauricio Pochettino called an “unacceptable” altercation over who should take a second-half penalty.

Palmer, the club’s designated penalty-taker, finally took charge, following intervention from captain Conor Gallagher, recovering his composure to score his fourth.

Jackson and Madueke follow a long line of club colleagues to have had a very public difference of opinion. Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some previous incidents.

Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer

Perhaps the classic of the genre, the Newcastle team-mates came to blows towards the end of a 3-0 home defeat by Aston Villa in April 2005, Dyer grabbing Bowyer by the throat and the pair trading punches before being separated by Villa’s Gareth Barry. Both men were dismissed by referee Barry Knight – defender Steven Taylor had earlier been sent off for handball – and later hauled before the media by manager Graeme Souness to apologise for their conduct.

Graeme Le Saux and David Batty

Blackburn’s Le Saux was left with a painful reminder of his bust-up with David Batty during a 3-0 Champions League defeat at Spartak Moscow in November 1995. Four minutes into the game, the pair collided as both tried to retrieve a Mike Newell pass and Batty made his displeasure abundantly clear. The row descended into a pushing match before Le Saux – he later insisted in self-defence – struck out, breaking his left hand during a scuffle in which intervening skipper Tim Sherwood took a blow to the cheek.

Hugo Lloris and Son Heung-min

Tottenham keeper Lloris and striker Son became involved in a heated row on the pitch as the half-time whistle sounded in a 1-0 Premier League victory over Everton in July 2020. Lloris angrily confronted the South Korea international over his failure to track back and the pair had to be separated by team-mates Giovani Lo Celso and Harry Winks. The spat continued down the tunnel and into the dressing room, although the two men embraced after the final whistle.

Derek Hales and Mike Flanagan

Charlton strike partners Hales and Flanagan came to blows during an FA Cup tie against Maidstone in January 1979. The source of the spat was allegedly Flanagan reacting to Hales failing to pass to him by making a disparaging remark about his team-mate’s genitals. Both were sent off.

Craig Levein and Graeme Hogg

The Hearts duo became involved in a disagreement during a pre-season friendly at Raith in August 1994 after their side had almost conceded. Both men threw punches, but it was Levein’s which did the damage, breaking Hogg’s nose. He was sent off as he was being carried off on a stretcher with Levein suffering the same fate, and they were later handed 10 and 12-match bans respectively.