Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique has admitted his astonishment at the defensive formation adopted by Arne Slot during Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat in the French capital on Wednesday. The reigning European champions delivered a dominant performance at the Parc des Princes, with goals from Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in either half ensuring the Ligue 1 giants head into the second leg of the quarter-final with a comfortable advantage.
For the high-stakes encounter, Slot opted for a significant tactical departure from his usual setup, deploying a three-man central defense featuring Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, and Joe Gomez. This system was bolstered by Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez acting as wing-backs, effectively creating a five-man rear guard. Despite the defensive reinforcement, the Merseyside club struggled to exert any influence on the contest, finishing the match with zero shots on target and a mere 26 percent of the ball.
Reflecting on the unexpected lineup during an interview with Canal Plus, Luis Enrique noted the rarity of such a maneuver from his managerial counterpart.
“It’s a surprise because it’s the first time Arne Slot has played with three at the back this year,” Enrique observed. “It indicated that they are evolving and experimenting with new strategies, which is quite normal. We are accustomed to opponents adjusting to our style, so there are no concerns. We will aim to secure victory in the second match.”
In a subsequent conversation with TNT Sports, the Spaniard expanded on his respect for Slot’s coaching ability while emphasizing that PSG is well-versed in handling opponents who alter their traditional blueprints to neutralize the Parisian attack.
“I recognize that Arne Slot is an excellent coach; this is the first instance they have employed five at the back. However, we are familiar with other teams altering their formations to compete against us; it is a common occurrence,” Enrique stated. “I believe they performed exceptionally well; they are a physically robust team with high-quality individual players, and it was a delightful match. It is always enjoyable to compete against Arne Slot and his teams, as they strive to play an attacking style of football, which was a pleasure to observe.”
As the focus shifts to the return leg at Anfield, the tactical chess match between the two managers remains a central theme, with Enrique expecting further evolution as Liverpool attempts to overturn the two-goal deficit.
