PSG not getting carried away, says Enrique, Arteta vows to bounce back

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Luis Enrique hailed his “incredible” team after Ousmane Dembele’s early goal gave them a 1-0 win away to Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday, but insisted there would be no euphoria in their ranks ahead of next week’s return.

“I think we showed the mentality that we show in every match and that mentality is a great pleasure for me to see as coach of Paris Saint-Germain,” the Spaniard said.

Dembele’s goal was all that separated the teams, although substitute Goncalo Ramos hit the bar late on, while Mikel Merino had an effort disallowed for offside at the other end early in the second half.

“I can’t complain because it was a game with a lot of strong emotions,” Luis Enrique said.

“It is difficult to play in that atmosphere, which was incredible. I think the goal early in the game was important for our confidence and I am happy because you can win or lose a game, but the mentality and ambition that our team shows is incredible.”

PSG now know that a draw in Paris next Wednesday, May 7, will be enough for them to advance to the second Champions League final in their history, a year after they lost to Borussia Dortmund in the last four.

“The players will not get carried away,” insisted Luis Enrique, who won the Champions League as coach of Barcelona in 2015.

“They know how difficult it is to win a game like this. We need to try to control our emotions, and play our game in front of our supporters, make the most of the strength they give us. It will be tight, but we will be ready.”

PSG will hope that Dembele is fit for the second leg after he had to come off in the second half.

The France star was dropped for disciplinary reasons when PSG lost 2-0 away to Arsenal during the league phase of the competition at the start of October.

However, he has been in irresistible form in recent months, and has now scored 33 goals in all competitions this season -- 28 of those goals have come since mid-December.

His goal on Tuesday was a fine first-time finish from a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia assist which followed a fine run from deep by Dembele himself.

“I don’t know if he will be ready. If Ousmane can play it’s better, but we will still have a proper team even if he can’t play,” added Luis Enrique.

“It is about the team above all. It is a great result and it was a great collective performance. We showed the desire we have to get to the final,” said playmaker Vitinha.

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta urged Arsenal to produce a “special” fightback against Paris Saint-Germain after Ousmane Dembele fired the French side to a 1-0 win in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday.

Dembele struck in the fourth minute at the Emirates Stadium and Arsenal were unable to haul themselves level in a tense clash featuring key misses from both teams.

PSG wasted two golden opportunities to take firm control of the tie in the closing stages as Goncalo Ramos hit the bar and Bradley Barcola shot wide from close-range.

Arsenal also had their moments after a slow start, with PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma making two superb saves to deny Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. In contrast to the previous two rounds, when Arsenal established substantial first leg leads en route to knocking out PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid, the Gunners will have to do it the hard way this time.

They head to Paris for the second leg on May 7 knowing an epic performance is required to book a place in their first Champions League final since 2006.

Arteta, whose club have never won the Champions League, saw enough in the first leg to believe it is far from impossible for Arsenal to leave the Parc des Princes victorious.

“We are at half-time, and my message is exactly the same as it was after we beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of the quarter-final,” he said.

“We have to go to Paris and win the game, and we are more than capable of doing it.

“If you want to win the Champions League final, you have to do something special, and we are going to have to do something special in Paris to be there. We still have a lot of chances to be in that final.”

Agencies