Paris Saint-Germain are through to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 after a dramatic two-leg tie against Monaco in the knockout round playoffs, and one of their key players has already weighed in on the prospect of facing Chelsea FC next.
The French champions drew 2-2 with Monaco in the second leg, progressing 5-4 on aggregate after overturning a first-leg deficit. PSG fell behind early but responded with goals from Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia before surviving a late Monaco rally.
With the draw for the last 16 still to be confirmed — PSG will face either Chelsea or FC Barcelona — midfielder Désiré Doué issued a bullish message about his side’s mentality. Speaking after PSG’s qualification, Doué said his team will approach whichever opponent they get with confidence. “It’s going to be two great games. In any case, we’ll approach them with a lot of confidence, and we’re ready to go up against them regardless of which team it is,” he told UEFA officials.
Doué also praised PSG’s resilience in navigating a challenging tie against Monaco, stressing the importance of the victory and the character shown by the squad in coming from behind. “We managed to show great spirit, and remained resilient, showing that by coming back from behind,” he added, acknowledging the quality of a tough domestic rival.
Manager Luis Enrique echoed these sentiments, insisting PSG are equipped to handle difficult European fixtures and ready to compete at the highest level, no matter the opponent drawn. “We are ready to play against any team, we are used to playing these difficult matches. Barcelona or Chelsea, it will be great,” he said.
PSG’s path to retaining their Champions League crown now hinges on Friday’s draw, where the club is one of the seeded teams and could be paired with Chelsea — a club they’ve met in European competition before — or with Barcelona.
