Ever since the Champions League has been called the Champions League, i.e. since the 1992-1993 season, both Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain have reached the top four four times each. In terms of finals and trophies, the Germans are better, as they were finalists twice against PSG’s one final, and in addition, Borussia reached the top in the 1996-1997 season, which the French still only dream of.
According to Emre Can, PSG is a contender for the duel, but Dortmund would cause a surprise Photo: EPA/Christopher Neundorf
If the bookies are to be believed, they will soon catch up with Dortmund in terms of appearances in the finals. To do this, they must first finish with a good result today at Signal Iduna Park, and then finish the job next Tuesday in front of their own audience. In this year’s group stage, Paris Saint-Germain already won a “duel” against Borussia. The two teams also fought each other in the group stage, the French won 2-0 at home and drew 1-1 away.
Seeing this, the shape and value of the two guards (one billion and 463 million euros, respectively), not only the bookmakers, but also the various media outlets proclaimed PSG as the contender for the duel. Luis Enrique responded to this suggestion with a scathing remark: – This shows that journalists do not know much about football.
For the time being, the head coach of Paris Saint-Germain is also happy that his team can be a guest in a special sanctuary. – It’s wonderful that we can play a great match in a unique stadium in Europe and have a chance to reach the final, thus giving our fans a present. It will be a great show, and it is possible that the goals will be pouring in, he predicted.
PSG can collect four trophies
Unlike his players, Enrique knows well what it feels like to win the Champions League, as he put Barcelona on the throne in 2015, and the Catalans ended the season with a treble. The Spanish master can now surpass this, as the league title and the French Super Cup already belong to the Parisians, who are also finalists in the French Cup and are one step away from it in the Champions League.
– Ever since I’ve been here, I’ve enjoyed the support of the players and club managers. We are constantly developing, but we are only at the beginning of the journey. There is one month left in the season, which we can close with as many as four trophies. We have to keep our emotions in check and cope with the pressure we are under, added Enrique.
Dortmund can save the season in the BL
In the case of Borussia Dortmund, who knocked out Atlético Madrid in the quarter-finals, we cannot speak of a successful season. In the Bundesliga, the team is only in fifth place, five points behind the fourth place that ensures the start of the Champions League. In the German Cup, Emre Can’s were already eliminated in the round of 16, so the BL is their last hope.
– If you had to choose the contender for the duel, perhaps it would seem clear which team it is. But it’s only two games, so anything can happen. Maybe we’re less experienced than them, but we’re hungrier for success, which can be to our advantage, Can said determinedly.
According to Edin Terzic, one should not start from the group stage matches. – We played an open match at home against PSG, we were closer to victory. They are at the top now, but we are also capable of great performance, as we have proven before. We are confident that we can show that we have improved since our last game against each other. It is not easy to stop PSG. Everyone is trying to get Kylian Mbappé out of the game, but it doesn’t always work. We are preparing a war plan that will make them suffer against us. I expect close matches – said the head coach of Borussia Dortmund.
Champions League, semi-final, Wednesday: Borussia Dortmund (Germany)–Paris Saint-Germain (France) 21.00 (TV: M4 Sport)
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