In the first leg of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League play-off, Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to defeat Monaco 3-2 away from home.

After the match, Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique described the hard-won victory as strange and arduous in an interview.

"My first impression was – this was a tough battle," Enrique said with a sigh of relief after the match. The Spanish coach admitted that Monaco's home ground has always been a "tough place" for Paris Saint-Germain, with PSG only managing two victories in their last six encounters there.

The early stages of the match confirmed this, with Monaco twice breaking through Paris Saint-Germain's high press and converting the deficit into goals, plunging the away team into a 0-2 deficit.

Enrique highly praised the team's mental fortitude in the face of adversity: "In football, when you're behind or even miss a penalty, your confidence can easily crumble. It's never easy to come back from such a situation, but we did it."

“This team is very young. Nobody had high hopes for us last year, but this year we were under pressure to win. Overcoming that pressure wasn’t easy, but I’m proud of the players’ performance.”

Besides the players' resilience, Enrique attributed the biggest credit for this comeback to the die-hard fans who traveled with the team. He emotionally stated that even when the scoreboard showed 0-2, the stadium was still filled with the deafening cheers of the Paris fans.

“They didn’t give up; instead, they gave the team boundless confidence. This victory is dedicated to them,” Enrique added.

With a narrow 3-2 lead and a valuable away victory, Enrique remained vigilant. He emphasized that the team must stay focused, as this young Paris Saint-Germain squad is undergoing a challenging period of growth under pressure.

Image source: Internet