Paris St-Germain manager Luis Enrique does not expect his squad to be hindered by a lack of experience when their Champions League campaign starts on Wednesday (8pm BST) against a visiting Girona side who play “wonderful” football.
The reigning French champions have named the second-youngest average starting side during the first four matches of the Ligue 1 season.
Their average age of 23.1 is more than six months younger than the average of the youngest starting side on the first night of this season’s Champions League, which was named by Portuguese club Sporting.
Ready for the first fight? ⚔️
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— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) September 17, 2024
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PSG squad age ‘no handicap’
“You can win and not have much experience,” argued Enrique. “How much experience do we need? There is no doubt we are a young team but I do not put limitations on myself, nor my players.
“Experience is important, of course, in everything in life but I see many expert players who make the same mistakes and many young players who also do that. I don’t feel it is a handicap for us to be a young team.”
Despite losing all-time PSG record scorer Kylian Mbappe at the end of last season, Paris have won all four of their league matches before they face one of the surprise packages of European football last season in Champions League debutants Girona.
Girona: Enrique ‘a fan’
The Blanquivermells scored six more goals than Barcelona in 2023-24, finishing four points behind the runners-up in third and qualifying for the Champions League by beating them in May, helped by three goals in 11 second-half minutes.
“No-one expected this – it’s the first time that Girona are going to play in the Champions League but I have to say that last season, in practically all of their games, without a doubt, they were one of the best Spanish teams and the most fun to watch,” said Enrique.
Matchday eve!
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— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) September 17, 2024
“Michel is a great coach who played wonderful football last season; in fact, they led the league for many days. They play very well with the ball, press well and I consider myself a fan of their coach.
“I congratulate them and hope they don’t play too well against us. They have the courage to play on the attack, they are daring and they always use the ball to create danger behind their opponents. I like their intensity without the ball.”
Girona results
Girona have taken seven points from their first five league games in a mixed start to the season, losing 3-0 at Atletico Madrid and, on Sunday, 4-1 at home to Barca.
“Which Girona are we going to play against?” asked Enrique. “I don’t know if you want to help me and you have information about Michel. I would love to have it.
“But listening to Michel and his statements about how they are going to face their first Champions League match, I think they are going to do what they are used to: attacking, being brave and enjoying playing in the way they did against Barcelona, even though Barcelona played very well.”
