PSG boss Luis Enrique has defended his team selection decisions ahead of his side’s crucial clash with Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final second leg.
The French giants currently hold an advantage in the tie, with Ousmane Dembele’s goal early on at the Emirates Stadium proving to be the difference after the first leg.
With Arsenal trailing 1-0 to PSG, Mikel Arteta will be looking to create one of the great European comebacks in the Champions League, with a huge challenge ahead at the Parc des Princes.
Both teams are out of form and carry little momentum, though, with very different approaches taken ahead of the match.
Luis Enrique discusses PSG team rotation compared to Arsenal
With Arsenal and PSG currently halfway through their Champions League semi-final encounter, plenty of attention has surrounded how each side will deal with their domestic matches between the ties.
Arsenal’s defeat to Bournemouth saw very little rotation from Mikel Arteta, who opted for much of the same team as the midweek side.
A comeback from the Cherries in the second half resulted in another loss at the Emirates Stadium, with little momentum now taken into the crunch match at the Parc des Princes.
As for PSG, their defeat to Strasbourg came with the context of a whole raft of changes, with Luis Enrique already sealing the Ligue 1 title.
While questions surround which approach is right, the PSG boss has defended his own decision to rotate the team.
“Mr. Arteta has his way of working, Mr. Enrique has his,” Enrique told the press. “I don’t know which is better. They had rest periods when we didn’t.
“Apart from the result, all the objectives I had set were achieved.”
It remains to be seen which team’s preparation will prevail, with such an important 90 minutes ahead for both in the context of their season.
Mikel Arteta has told Arsenal players to aim rage at PSG clash
There was plenty of frustration as Arsenal fell to defeat against Bournemouth, not least due to the lack of rotation.
Jurrien Timber’s absence is a concern for midweek, while reports of a Martin Odegaard injury have only compounded some worry for the side.
With that annoyance bubbling at Arsenal ahead of a huge match, Mikel Arteta has called upon his players to channel it towards PSG.
He told the press: “We certainly wanted to create a really good vibe, a positive result would really help us to build what we wanted towards Wednesday.
“So, what we have created now is a lot of rage, anger, frustration and a bad feeling in the tummy. So, make sure that we use that for Wednesday to have a massive performance in Paris, win the game and be in the final.”
It’s a clear sign that all is not going as smoothly as desired at Arsenal, but there is still a route back into their important meeting.
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