Luis Enrique Issues Chelsea Warning Ahead of Champions League Last-16 Draw

Luis Enrique has warned his Paris Saint-Germain side that they will “have a few things to work on” if drawn against Chelsea FC in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

PSG secured their place in the knockout stages after edging past AS Monaco in a dramatic play-off tie. A 2–2 draw in the second leg on Wednesday night ensured a 5–4 aggregate victory for the French champions.

The draw, set to take place at the House of European Football in Nyon, will determine whether PSG face Chelsea or FC Barcelona in the next round.

‘Neither Will Be Easy’

Speaking to Movistar following the four-goal encounter with Monaco, Enrique admitted there was little to separate the two potential opponents.

“Neither will be easy,” he said.

“Since it doesn’t depend on me, I’ll adapt to whatever comes. They are two incredible teams. Barça is very special to me and is already becoming a classic for me — like Manchester City and Real Madrid.

“Barcelona is a unique city, and the club is special. And if we get Chelsea, we’ll have a few things to work on.”

The remark appears to reference PSG’s 3–0 defeat to Chelsea in last summer’s Club World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — a result that still lingers. Tensions flared after full-time in that encounter, underlining the intensity between the two sides.

‘If There’s One Team That’s Ready, It’s Us’

Despite acknowledging the challenge ahead, Enrique insisted his squad are accustomed to high-pressure fixtures.

“We deserved this qualification, but it was difficult. The result was complicated; it was a tricky match,” he said after the Monaco clash.

“There are moments when you lose precision and it’s difficult to recover the level. We have to be happy with what we did in overcoming this difficult moment.

“If there’s one team in the Champions League that played against the toughest group, it’s us. We’re used to playing against any team.

“Chelsea or Barça would be tough, but if there’s one team that’s ready, it’s us.”

Barcelona Connection

A tie against Barcelona would carry personal significance for Enrique. The Spaniard made 300 appearances for the Catalan club, winning multiple domestic honours, including two La Liga titles and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.

He later returned as head coach in 2014, overseeing a highly successful three-year spell that delivered two La Liga crowns and the Champions League in 2014/15, among other major trophies.

However, Enrique was keen to focus on the present rather than nostalgia.

“We have to keep doing the same thing. We’re ready to play any team, in any competition,” he added.

“It’s been a unique season — we’ve had a lot of injured players. That’s not an excuse, but it’s important to have the whole squad available.

“There are three months of competition left, and we have the same mentality: to go out and win.”

With the draw imminent, PSG’s European ambitions remain firmly intact — but Enrique’s message is clear: improvement will be essential if they are to navigate the next hurdle, particularly should Chelsea stand in their way.