PSG must keep Barca ‘Harry Potter’ Pedri at bay: Luis Enrique

BARCELONA: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Luis Enrique compared Barcelona midfielder Pedri Gonzalez to fictional wizard Harry Potter and said he hopes the Spaniard doesn’t “bring his wand” to Wednesday’s Champions League clash.

Luis Enrique highlighted both teams’ desire to keep the ball and play attacking football ahead of the league phase game at the Olympic stadium, with Pedri a vital cog of Barca’s midfield engine.

The 22-year-old Canary Islander was also key for Luis Enrique’s Spain side which reached the Euro 2020 semi-finals.

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“I think Pedri knows me very well because of the national team, and he knew what we were trying to do,” Luis Enrique told a news conference Tuesday.

“I said about Pedri a while ago he is Harry Potter, and I hope that tomorrow he doesn’t bring his magic wand.

“We’ll try to do everything we can so he participates as little as possible.”

TOO MANY INJURED PLAYERS

PSG are waiting to find out if midfielders Vitinha, Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz, and winger Bradley Barcola will be fit to play, while forwards Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are out.

Luis Enrique said despite PSG’s multiple absences he was trying to stay positive, and noted Hansi Flick’s Barcelona are also missing players, including Gavi and Fermin Lopez.

“You need to stay positive all the time, it’s easy to be negative. It’s unfortunate to have a Barcelona (vs) PSG match with five or six important players for Barca and PSG who are not going to play.

“For me, for Hansi Flick, it’s a shame, and for the supporters of both teams.”

Luis Enrique played for Barcelona from 1996 to 2004 and later coached the team, leading them to the treble in 2015.

The Spaniard said he was delighted to be back visiting his former side and admired Flick’s team.

XAVI vs FLICK

Luis Enrique’s PSG beat Xavi Hernandez’s Barcelona in the Champions League in 2024 and the coach criticised their style and compared them to Spanish minnows Eibar, playing a long-ball game.

“I don’t think comparing (Xavi and Flick’s sides) is the right thing to do, not comparing teams or coaches, because these are totally different situations,” said Luis Enrique.

“All I have to say is I have loved Hansi Flick’s Barca from the start, I think they connect with the idea of football that Barca hold.

“He’s clearly a high-level coach, he goes on the attack, uses attacking players, knows how to defend well, keeps a high line and presses at a high level…”

“It’s a team I love, I love to watch, you know I’m a Barca fan, a club member, and I will be all my life, I see all their games and I love watching the team because they entertain me.”