PSG’s Illia Zabarnyi (centre) controls the ball during a training session at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy, yesterday.
Paris: Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique yesterday insisted he would accept losing to Newcastle in their final league-phase outing of this season’s Champions League if they can go on to win Europe’s elite club competition for the second year running.
PSG and Newcastle come into today’s decisive encounter at the Parc des Princes in sixth and seventh place respectively in the 36-team standings, level on 13 points but with the reigning champions having scored more goals.
Whoever wins will be guaranteed a top-eight finish, which grants direct qualification for the last 16. However, a draw could knock both sides out of the top eight, depending on results elsewhere -- the nine sides directly beneath them in the table are all within two points.
The latter scenario would leave PSG and Newcastle facing an extra two-legged play-off round next month, which is what PSG came through last season before going on to win the title in style.
“This is a competition that we clearly like, which is a positive thing. Of course our aim is to finish in the top eight, and to beat a very good Newcastle team who have a different style, brave and physical,” Luis Enrique told reporters on the eve of the match in the French capital.
PSG and Newcastle met in the old group stage of the Champions League two seasons ago, with the English side winning 4-1 at St James’ Park before a 1-1 draw in France.
“We know them from having played them before, so it will be very difficult,” Luis Enrique added.
“This is a key point in the season for us, but not as important as the future, because our objective is to win the competition.
“I would take a defeat or a draw if it meant us going on to win the Champions League. The real Champions League begins after this and we are an incredible team in knock-out ties.”
Arteta issues rallying cry after Arsenal wobble
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta promised that Arsenal would play with “courage and conviction” for the rest of the season after their surprise defeat by Manchester United slowed their Premier League title charge.
Arsenal, who remain four points clear of second-placed Manchester City, host Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty today, aiming to complete the tournament’s league phase with a perfect record.
The Gunners, who have seven wins out of seven in Europe this season, have already secured a place in the last 16, meaning they avoid a potentially tricky play-off next month.
Arsenal boss Arteta was asked at his pre-match press conference yesterday about his team’s reaction to Sunday’s surprise 3-2 defeat against United -- a first home loss of the season.
“The reaction has been excellent,” said the Spaniard. “We took a moment to bring the temperature down, to pause and to reflect and ask two questions.
“One is, how do we feel and how do I feel myself? And then, how we are going to live the next four months?
“And it was so encouraging and beautiful because what came out of that is very simple -- we have earned the right to be in a great position in four competitions.”
