Luis Enrique Hails Arne Slot for Crafting an ‘Near-Perfect’ Liverpool Team

Paris Saint-Germain’s coach Luis Enrique has praised the efforts of Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot, noting on Tuesday that the Dutch tactician has assembled an “almost perfect team” since succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

On Wednesday, two of Europe’s premier clubs will clash as PSG hosts Liverpool at the Parc des Princes for the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 encounter.

PSG remains unbeaten in Ligue 1 and is well on its way to clinching another French title, while Liverpool holds a commanding 13-point lead in the Premier League and finished first in the 36-team league stage of the Champions League.

“It’s hard to envisage a better match-up on paper between two dominant teams, each with slightly different playing styles but both possessing a commanding presence,” Enrique told the media.

Historically, Liverpool has been unsuccessful in their past encounters at PSG, having lost both previous visits in 1997 and 2018. The latter defeat came just months before they went on to lift the trophy that same season in Madrid by defeating Tottenham in the final.

Under Klopp, the Reds also fell short in two Champions League finals against Real Madrid, with the most recent final taking place in 2022 at the Stade de France, marred by chaotic scenes outside the venue that left many fans distressed.

Slot took over from Klopp last summer, following the German’s departure after nine successful years, and his impact on the six-time European champions has been significant.

“Liverpool has been one of the top teams in Europe in recent years, clinching the Champions League in 2019,” Enrique remarked.

“It was challenging to enhance what Klopp achieved, but Arne Slot has successfully built an almost perfect squad.”

Mohamed Salah is having an outstanding season, racking up 30 goals and 22 assists, making him a leading candidate for the Ballon d’Or. Nonetheless, Enrique was quick to emphasise that Liverpool’s threat extends beyond just Salah.

“While Salah’s statistics are incredible, he is not the only danger; they possess numerous world-class players, making it a very well-rounded team,” the Spanish coach stated.

“That motivates us, and it’s time for us to demonstrate that we have what it takes.”

He went on to add: “They boast one of the best attacking units in Europe, and while we aim to control possession, we need to be cautious of their counter-attacks, as they have three speedsters upfront.”

PSG faced a challenging start in the Champions League, having to navigate through the play-offs after losing three of their first five matches.

However, they bounced back decisively, dominating their domestic rivals Brest 10-0 on aggregate to progress to the last 16, and remain unbeaten in their last 22 matches across all competitions.

“We must continue to execute what we have been doing since the start of the season; not much has changed,” said Luis Enrique.

“We recognise that we are up against the most consistent team this season, but our strategy remains the same.

“It will be a fiercely contested and challenging match. While the first leg won’t determine the tie, it is exceptionally important for us. It’s difficult for opponents to perform at the Parc des Princes under the weight of the crowd’s expectations.”