Luis Enrique has dismissed the impact of captain Marquinhos missing Paris Saint-Germain’s clash with Aston Villa tomorrow night and insisted “it means nothing”.
The Brazil international is suspended after being booked against Liverpool in the previous round and will sit out the opening leg of the Champions League quarterfinal at the Parc des Princes.
Lucas Beraldo is set to deputise alongside Willian Pacho in the centre of defence and the PSG boss is confident it won’t have a disruptive effect on his team.
Asked what it will change for the hosts, Luis Enrique said: “Nada, nothing. He will be on the bench [in a supporting role] and will help us if he can.”
The former Barcelona boss was in a typically cagey mood and asked if Nuno Mendes and Joao Neves will return to the side after being rested against Angers at the weekend, he replied: “I will not give any clue to [Villa boss] Unai Emery. The players who will start the match and those who arrive in the second half will simply all be ready.”
⚽️ L’entraînement veille de match avant Aston Villa FC 🔴🔵 https://t.co/AkRWmwX2Mn
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) April 8, 2025
Luis Enrique not fazed by potential Asensio banana skin either
Villa will arrive in the French capital on the back of a seven-game winning run and with Emery having plenty of options following the January acquisitions of Marcus Rashford, Axel Disasi and Marco Asensio.
Asensio moved to Villa Park on loan from PSG and is eligible to play against his parent club tomorrow night.
Despite the potential pitfalls, Luis Enrique insists he does not regret letting him depart despite the Spain international netting eight goals 11 appearances for Villa.
“It doesn’t bother me at all,” said the PSG boss. “I am delighted that he can play.
“He didn’t get the game time that he wanted here and he had this option to go to Birmingham. It is good that he is playing. I shared lots of things with him with the Spain national team. He is a very important player to me.
“He is a very high-class player. He was important at the start of the season and I know him perfectly well.”
Play the game, not the occasion – Luis Enrique
PSG go in as favourites and Luis Enrique has called for cool heads in what is sure to be an intense atmosphere.
“I am convinced of the work we have done so far,” he said. “I repeat to my players: it is very important to control emotions and take advantage of the positive energy of our fans.”
