Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique on Monday brushed aside criticism from Ballon ⁠d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele over a lack of team spirit at the Champions League holders ahead of their ‌knockout-round playoff first leg at Monaco on Tuesday.

Dembele was critical of his ‌teammates after PSG lost 3-1 at Rennes, ‌calling for unity and for players to stop playing for themselves.

Friday’s ‌defeat came after a challenging few months in which ‌they failed to finish in the top eight of the Champions League and struggled to dominate Ligue 1 as they have in ‌the past.

“There’s always a lot of noise ⁠around PSG, and we ‌have to accept it. That’s it,” said Luis Enrique when asked ​again to respond to Dembele’s criticism at the pre-match press conference.

He had done much the same on ​Friday after Dembele’s feisty pitch-side television interview.

“The defeat (by Rennes) was cruel because if you consider what we created, it ⁠was similar to what ​we did against Marseille when we scored five goals. But we only got one against Rennes,” said the coach.

“We would have liked to come to Monaco with a victory, that’s ‌true, but it’s the Champions League and we’re motivated.”

PSG lost 1-0 at Monaco in November. “We can expect a match similar to the one we played. We’re not going to change anything because we’re going to try to win this match,” Luis Enrique added.

He also dismissed concerns about facing a domestic rival in the Champions League.

“It’s football, it’s the same thing, you have to try to do the ‌same thing to win the match. What I hope is ​to see the best version of PSG.

“We started the ‌Champions League last season with the same lack of efficiency, but when you look at the results we later had, it meant we were superior to our opponents, and that’s what we’re aiming for again. I’m ⁠sure we can get ⁠back to that very ‌quickly,” he added.

Benfica boss Jose Mourinho has sent a message to Real Madrid ahead of the Champions League play-off.



Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored with almost the final kick of a 4-2 win over the Spanish giants to secure a play-off spot on goal difference for Mourinho’s side who will clash against the Spanish giants once more.

Having previously described Arbeloa as “his boy”, Mourinho did not hold back against a Madrid side who have struggled in the Champions League this season.

Speaking in his latest press conference ahead of the clash, Mourinho sent a warning to his former side who reports suggest he is desperate to get revenge against after falling out with the side.

“(I know it will be) Very demanding, without a doubt. We’ve only played the first leg of the tie.

“Trubin (the Benfica keeper who scored against Real Madrid last time out) won’t be in the attack at the Luz stadium. I’m very used to these kinds of ties.

“I’ve been doing it all my life. People often think you need a certain result in the first leg for this or that reason. I say there is no definitive result.

“We will play the first leg with our heads, ambition, and confidence. We know what we did to the kings of the Champions League.

“They are wounded. And a wounded king is dangerous.”

Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus has opened up on Harry Kane’s future.

The England captain has scored 126 goals in 131 appearances for Bayern since his 95M transfer from Tottenham in 2023, a deal which now looks like a bargain on paper.

At 32 years old, many reports have speculated on his future as he is linked with the MLS and the Saudi Pro League. However, speaking to Sky Sports Deutschland, club legend Lothar Matthaus is convinced he will stay.

“I don’t believe he’ll leave Bayern. Money isn’t his top priority; it’s feeling comfortable – with the coaches, his team-mates, and his family.

“He’s settled in well with his children. Bringing his family along is a huge step. I have the feeling that money isn’t what matters to him. In Saudi Arabia, he’d probably earn three or four times as much. I’m convinced that Harry Kane will extend his contract with FC Bayern.”

The Tottenham legend now has 41 goals for the Munich side this season, including 26 in the league where he is the top scorer by some distance.

Kane was already the highest-scoring Englishman, having surpassed Jimmy Greaves’ total of 474 in December. Now, with the World Cup quickly approaching, he will aim to continue that form across the US, Mexico and Canada in a few months time.