Luis Enrique: PSG head coach hails nine-goal thriller against Bayern Munich as the 'greatest game he's coached'

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Luis Enrique summed it up perfectly. “We deserved to win, we deserved to draw, and we deserved to lose today." Such was the quality on show during Paris Saint-Germain's 5-4 victory over Bayern Munich, the result felt secondary.

Highlights: PSG beat Bayern in wild nine-goal epic

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Enrique collected his 50th Champions League victory as a head coach - reaching the milestone faster than any other tactician in the competition - but surely none of his previous 49 will have been as memorable as this, even accounting for the 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich in last year's final.
The two attacking behemoths of European football had been unofficially crowned the two best teams in this year's competition, and so Tuesday's semi-final first leg at the Parc des Princes came with plenty of hype attached.
But in the French capital home to Moulin Rouge, there was only one show in town, which lived up to the billing - and then some.
"I've never seen such an intensity and physical level," Enrique said at his press conference, having caught his breath from seeing his PSG side hold onto a slender advantage to take with them to Munich next week for the second leg, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
"We have to congratulate everyone, because this game was that incredible.
"It was such an extraordinary game, with two sides performing at such an incredible level. I am so tired, and I didn't even run a kilometre. The match had everything. There were a lot of ebbs and flows. It is a moment to congratulate the players, the two sides, and all of those present here."
Speaking to broadcasters after the match, Enrique added: "I think it was the best match I have ever managed as a coach. It had amazing rhythm, trying to play offensive football, trying to show their quality. I think everybody had fun watching the match. I’m happy because we won."
This nine-goal thriller means that both PSG and Bayern have both surpassed the 40-goal threshold in the competition this term - the first time in Champions League history that two different clubs have both done so in a single edition.
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Marquinhos leads the PSG celebrations - but the job is only half done

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After Harry Kane broke the deadlock from the spot to become the first-ever English player to score in six straight Champions League games, the hosts responded emphatically before the break to lead.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia set the tone with a moment of precision, cutting in from the left to curl a superb finish into the far corner before Joao Neves' glancing header edged the Parisians in front.
Michael Olise responded in kind, weaving past defenders and rifling home to restore parity for Bayern in a breathless opening period that seemed destined to end level.
Instead, controversy intervened. Deep into stoppage time, referee Sandro Scharer awarded a contentious penalty after a VAR review judged Alphonso Davies to have handled, despite the ball appearing to deflect onto his arm. Ousmane Dembele converted with composure to restore the hosts’ advantage.
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'STUNNING!' – Brilliant Olise scores superb equaliser

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Bayern pushed after the interval but were repeatedly exposed as PSG seized control. Kvaratskhelia added a second from Achraf Hakimi’s delivery, before Dembele struck again to open a commanding three-goal cushion.
A flicked finish from Dayot Upamecano offered brief hope, and a late effort from Luis Diaz - supplied by Kane - kept Bayern within touching distance ahead of the return leg on 6 May.
"We have to analyse the game," Enrique continued.
"Of course, there are aspects we can improve. When you face a team with this individual and collective talent, it's so difficult. We conceded four goals, there are things to improve. We’ll recover, think of the league, then focus on next week. I think we're in store for a similar game.
"The rhythm of this match was so different from other games. The players who came on brought a lot. We have this capacity to manage the minutes of our players.
"It’s important for us to profit from the talent on our bench. The quality of Bayern is so clear. We deserved to win, we’re happy, but of course, at 5-2, you think the outcome could have been different."

Enrique: We need three more goals to win

So often in previous editions of the Champions League, where away goals counted double in knockout rounds, a narrow defeat away from home might have counted as a victory of sorts - but Bayern know just how dangerous their opponents will be at the Allianz Arena.
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'Wonderful skill!' - Kane and Diaz combine for superb Bayern goal in epic

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There is little chance of PSG sitting back and protecting a one-goal advantage in the face of an attacking front three that has now scored 100 goals between them this season.
So how many goals will PSG need in the second leg?
"I asked my staff how many goals we think we’ll have to score, and we agreed on three," said Enrique.
"It’s a stadium that brings us so many happy memories; we won our first Champions League there. Bayern will be there with their supporters – we’ll show the same mentality. We’ll be going to win the match."
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'What a player!' - Kvaratskhelia dazzles with 'wonderful' goal against Bayern

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Kompany: Next week can't come quick enough

As for Bayern boss Vincent Kompany, the Belgian was forced to watch on from the stands having collected his third yellow card of the competition during the quarter-finals.
With no communication allowed with his coaching staff and players, it would have been an agonising watch, but the sight of his side rallying in the second-half from 5-2 down to come within a goal of parity provides plenty of encouragement heading back to Bavaria.
"We saw today that games depend on the smallest details," Kompany said. "These details will be equally important next week.
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Dembele grabs his second goal - PSG's fifth - with 'brilliant' finish off post

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"At home, we have to be ready to give everything, and that includes our fans. It’s so important that the 75,000 fans present give everything. We have to win, and we'll need the support of our fans to do so.
"Every element is important; it’s my job to accept nothing but perfection. There was a part of the match that was inevitable, and that was the risks that we were both willing to take. We had a lot of chances, some of which we didn’t convert. We’ll have to capitalise on them at home next week."
"[Next week] can’t come quick enough. We can’t ask for more. We’re against the best side in Europe, because they’re the reigning champions. The result is still in the balance.
"But we need the stadium to have an impact; it’s a legendary place, where this club has achieved so many great things. We can’t hope for anything better. We’ll take what we have, and we’ll work on what we can do better."

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