Luis Enrique plays down importance of PSG vs Man City as he makes Pep Guardiola point

Luis Enrique has shrugged off the idea of pressure ahead of Paris St Germain's critical Champions League match against Manchester City. The match sees the French giants welcoming their English rivals on Wednesday, with significant implications for both teams in the competition.

PSG enter the clash after a rocky start in the Champions League, having gathered a mere seven points and three losses from their first six league phase matches, leaving them just outside the top 24. Meanwhile, Manchester City is scarcely better off, the 2023 victors securing eight points in what has been an uninspiring season thus far.

A loss for either side spells potential disaster regarding their chances to advance, yet Enrique has dismissed the notion of the game being 'must-win'.

The PSG boss said: "Why would there be pressure? This team never gives up and fights until the last minute. The reality is we should have won the games against PSV (Eindhoven) and Atletico (Madrid). With those (extra) five points we would already be qualifying for the next round.

"But I am very optimistic and confident. Is it a must-win game? The obligation is all the players give 100 per cent, and I take the same attitude every day. You can lose games, and that’s life. The most important thing is to be committed."

As former teammates at Barcelona and the Spain national team through the late 1990s and early 2000s, Enrique shares a storied past with Man City's coach Pep Guardiola. Both have gone toe to toe as managers four times with an even record - with both men claiming two wins apiece and sharing similar coaching philosophies.

"It is a special match, not just because of the importance for the two teams, but because I will be up against a friend who I played with