The real competition starts now: Enrique prepared for KO phase
PA Media/dpa
London
Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique feels the real tests at the Club World Cup will now kick in as the European champions prepare to face Lionel Messi's Inter Miami for a place in the quarter-finals.
After opening the tournament with a 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid, Enrique's side slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat against Botafogo.
PSG, though, made sure there would be no early flight back to France with a 2-0 victory over Seattle Sounders to go through as Group B winners on goal difference.
Inter Miami had also looked set to top their group - and go into the other half of the draw - before Palmeiras fought back with two late goals to draw 2-2 at Hard Rock Stadium, handing Messi a reunion with his former club.
Enrique knows there are now no more second chances if PSG want to make an impact in the knockout stage.
'We plan to go as far as possible and I believe the players are ready,' Enrique said after the win over Seattle.
'The real competition starts now and it will be very tough. After each match, we have to see if we qualify or not, so we are motivated.'
PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma maintains the players are fully focused on adding another trophy to their season haul.
'I hope we keep winning more matches and that we will reach the final together, all united,' the Italian said.
'It is very important for us and the club to go all the way.' Messi left Paris in the summer of 2023 to start a fresh challenge in Major League Soccer.
While the Argentina World Cup winner, who turned 38 earlier this week, has little left to prove, Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano hopes Messi might just have a bit of extra motivation when he faces his former employers in Atlanta on Sunday.
'It is clear that for us it is better if he plays angry, because he is one of those players who, when he has something on his mind, gives an extra effort,' Mascherano told ESPN SportsCenter.
'But I think that is already in the past. It is a different story now and since the game is here in the United States, I don't think the atmosphere will be the same.
'What we will try to do is play a great game because to have any chance we need to have a perfect match. One mistake and PSG will punish us, but we will go for it.'
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