1 year ago
32
play
Should García commencement implicit Mbappé for Real Madrid? (2:27)
The ESPN FC unit sermon Gonzalo García and Kylian Mbappé up of Real Madrid's semifinal lucifer vs. PSG. (2:27)
Reuters
Jul 8, 2025, 08:09 PM ET
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique refused to beryllium drawn into comparisons betwixt his Champions League-winning squad and the squad that antecedently featured Kylian Mbappé, up of Wednesday's Club World Cup semifinal clash with his erstwhile star's caller nine Real Madrid.
"This is simply a question astir the past and I'm not present to speech astir the past, I'm lone reasoning astir the future," Luis Enrique told a quality league erstwhile asked if his PSG are a amended squad present without Mbappé than erstwhile they had the France skipper successful their squad earlier his escaped transportation to Real Madrid past year.
The Spanish manager did admit that facing his erstwhile subordinate adds spice to the encounter, saying that "playing against the astir palmy squad successful the world" is "definitely other motivation."
PSG volition again person to contend with brutal conditions successful New Jersey, with an day kickoff successful scorching vigor aft temperatures successful Tuesday's semifinal betwixt Chelsea and Fluminense soared past 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) with implicit 54% humidity, prompting a National Weather Service warning.
"We're getting utilized to it. Playing successful these conditions, due to the fact that that's been the norm during the World Cup. It'll beryllium concern arsenic usual," Luis Enrique said. "It's not bully for the spectacle due to the fact that it's hard to play successful that position. It's the aforesaid for some teams."
Despite the challenging circumstances, the erstwhile Barcelona brag is relishing the high-stakes encounter.
"Playing against Real Madrid volition beryllium a peculiar match, nary uncertainty astir it. At the aforesaid time, we similar playing these kinds of games due to the fact that it means you've done your occupation good and you're successful a presumption to play successful a semifinal," helium said.
The victor volition look Chelsea successful Sunday's final, aft the Premier League broadside secured their spot with a 2-0 triumph implicit Fluminense connected Tuesday, courtesy of newcomer João Pedro's brace.
