PSG manager rules out rotations ahead of Barcelona clash: ‘Important thing is to beat Strasbourg’
· Yahoo Sports
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Barcelona face a gruelling away clash against Real Betis this weekend in La Liga, especially given Los Verdiblancos’ recent run of form.
Immediately after that, however, lies the biggest test of their season so far as they face the back-to-back UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain on match day 3 of the UCL.
By all means, that game will be one of the biggest games of the season as both sides are in red-hot form. While Barcelona’s consistency this season has been impeccable, PSG have been stellar in the big games.
Luis Enrique speaks on Barcelona clash
PSG manager Luis Enrique spoke to the media ahead of his team’s game against Strasbourg and was asked if he was planning any major rotations keeping the upcoming Barcelona game in mind.
A big game awaits. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
The former Barcelona coach denied any such ideas and insisted that the complete focus of the team was on the league game that they face this weekend.
“I wouldn’t want to explain anything. Every time we make changes, we think about the short, medium and long term,” he began as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
“The important thing is to beat Strasbourg and then prepare in the best way for the next match and try to win all the games,” he added.
The manager then spoke out on how theories of PSG using Ligue 1 games to rest stars for big games were far from the truth.
“It’s typically the noise around a team like PSG. Before arriving, I heard that this club would never win the Champions League due to the level of the championship.”
“Then, when you win, people find excuses and complain. It’s life, we accept it,” he concluded.
Barcelona have no scope to rotate
Can Barcelona move past the ghosts of the past? (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Barcelona have had a very strong run so far this season, but matters now begin to heat up for them in terms of the quality of the opposition.
In the next three games, the Catalans face Real Betis, PSG and Real Madrid, all of which are massive outings.
While Los Verdiblancos would appear to be the weak link, they are ahead of even Real Madrid in this season’s league standings and have dropped points only twice in eight games.
Barcelona, in that sense, have very low margin for error and will have to field their big names in all three games without any respite. The option of massive rotation does not even arise.