Luis Enrique on 5-4 criticism: “Those are rubbish opinions”

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique, on the cusp of guiding his team to a second consecutive Champions League final, described Tuesday's thrilling 5-4 semi-final victory over Bayern Munich as a "miracle." However, the Spaniard dismissed criticism regarding the high number of goals conceded in the high-scoring encounter.

“Just like in life, opinions are everywhere,” Enrique began. “I don't think it's important to respect all opinions, because if an opinion is rubbish, there's no reason to respect it... There are people who enjoy this kind of football – they are the majority, and I am one of them. But some don't like it. I believe we proved that most people enjoyed the match, and that's the most important thing.”

“Bayern is the strongest opponent I've faced with PSG. But what a level both teams showed, what a level the attackers displayed! A 5-4 scoreline might seem catastrophic for defenses, but we are two of the best defensive teams, along with Arsenal. It was simply a different kind of match,” stated the former Spain national team coach.

“For me, this was a unique football match. If I usually spend three hours analyzing a game, this time for PSG-Bayern, I needed five hours. There were incredible plays, both in attack and defense, from Bayern. There wasn't a single defensive error, which made this match magnificent. Just look at how Kane and Dembélé defended! Incredible! We must congratulate both teams and enjoy the game,” Enrique enthused.

Regarding the upcoming second leg on Wednesday, the former Barcelona coach admitted that Achraf Hakimi would be missed. The Moroccan sustained an injury.

“What do I need to explain about him? His level? Hakimi is a starter, he always plays at an exceptionally high level. He's a machine, he's incredible. It's like having three players. Unfortunately, he won't be in Munich,” the coach lamented.

Before their trip to Germany, the Parisians have a home Ligue 1 match against Lorient on Saturday at 6:00 PM.