Luis Enrique reacts to PSG’s potential Chelsea tie in Champions League draw

Feb 26, 2026 - 02:00

Luis Enrique says Chelsea and Barcelona are ‘two incredible teams’ (Movistar)

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique insists Chelsea are an ‘incredible’ team ahead of their potential Champions League last-16 tie.

The Champions League holders drew 2-2 with Monaco in the second leg of their play-off tie on Wednesday night to progress 5-4 on aggregate.

PSG will now play either Chelsea or Barcelona in the last-16 stage, with the draw due to take place at 11am on Friday.

When asked about the prospect of PSG playing either his former club Barcelona or Chelsea in the Champions League knockout phase, Luis Enrique told Movistar: ‘Neither will be easy.

‘Since it doesn’t depend on me, I’ll adapt to whatever comes. They are two incredible teams.

Paris Saint-Germain's players celebrate their victory at the end of the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on February 25, 2026. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP via Getty Images) — PSG will play either Barcelona or Chelsea in the Champions League last-16 (AFP via Getty)

‘Barca is very special to me and is already becoming a classic for me. Like Manchester City and Real Madrid. Barcelona is a unique city and the club is special.

Your football fix

Metro's Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy analysis, transfer talk and his take on the week's biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.

‘And if we get Chelsea, we’ll have a few things to work on.’

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Luis Enrique also claimed PSG’s tough Champions League league phase has meant that his players are already acclimatised to high-pressure fixtures in Europe.

‘We deserved this qualification but it was difficult because for me the result was complicated, it was a tricky match,’ Luis Enrique said.

‘There are moments when you lose precision and it’s difficult to recover the level. We have to be happy with what we did, with having overcome this difficult moment.

Who can the Premier League teams play in the Champions League last-16?

Arsenal will play either Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta

Chelsea will play either Newcastle United or PSG

Liverpool will play either Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray

MONACO, MONACO - AUGUST 27: The UEFA Champions League trophy is seen on the stage ahead of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase Draw at Grimaldi Forum on August 27, 2025 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Claudio Lavenia - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) — The Champions League draw takes place on Friday (UEFA via Getty)

Man City will play either Bodo/Glimt or Real Madrid

Tottenham will play either Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray

Newcastle United will play either Chelsea or Barcelona

‘What I can say is that if there’s one team in the Champions League that played against the toughest group, it’s us. We’re used to playing against any team.

‘Of course, we want to improve, but we faced a very high-level opponent. Chelsea or Barca would be tough, but if there’s one team that’s ready, it’s us.

‘We have to keep doing the same thing, we’re ready to play any team, in any competition.

‘It’s been a unique season, we’ve had a lot of injured players. That’s not an excuse, but it’s important to have the whole squad available. There are three months of competition left, and we have the same mentality to go out and win.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.