A coach who respects the champions
Iñigo Pérez did not hide his nerves. Speaking to reporters on Monday ahead of Villarreal’s Champions League home game against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday (9 p.m. local), the Spanish coach described the two-time defending European champions as a steamroller, whatever the ground, the opponent or the moment.
“We have to overcome our inferiority complex,” Pérez said, according to RMC Sport. His warning to his squad was blunt: show Paris you belong, or they will smell the fear and punish it. He also praised Luis Enrique, calling him brilliant and strong-willed, and said he admires how the PSG coach handles both wins and setbacks. Pérez is only starting his third season as a head coach.
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Paris arrive thin, Villarreal arrive stung
The visitors are far from full strength. PSG lost three players to injuries in the loss to Barcelona on October 20, among them Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and looks done for much of the season. Ousmane Dembélé, Marquinhos and Nuno Mendes are also out. Even so, Paris won 5-1 at Le Havre on Friday, with Achraf Hakimi at his best.
Villarreal come in on the back of a 1-0 home defeat to Espanyol over the weekend. Pérez framed the fixture as the perfect reset, saying there is no better test than facing the best team in the competition and that he does not see that as a problem.
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