Luis Enrique says PSG have improved since October Arsenal loss

LONDON: Luis Enrique says Paris Saint-Germain are “a much better team” since October´s defeat to Arsenal ahead of the clubs´ Champions League semi-final first-leg.

The French champions head back to London on Tuesday having struggled through to the European knock-out stages in a tough league phase that included losses to Arsenal (2-0), Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich.

“It was seven or eight months ago. I´ve watched the match back. We´re a much better team now,” Luis Enrique said on Monday.

“We had a very intense league phase, with a lot of games that could have been finals. “It was risky but it helped us, even when it was very hard. “Now there´s just one road to push on towards the final.”

The Parisians claimed a fourth straight Ligue 1 title this month but are in a sticky patch after a draw with Nantes and Friday´s loss to Nice. “It doesn´t worry me,” the Spanish coach said. “The spirit in the squad is exceptional.”

“I´m the saddest member of the squad, so imagine how the others feel,” he added. PSG return to the last four of the Champions League for a second consecutive campaign, having lost to Borussia Dortmund at the same stage last season.

The club´s Qatari owners have made lifting the trophy a clear ambition since taking over in 2011. “This pressure doesn´t strangle us, we´re ambitious,” Luis Enrique said. “When we speak about making history, we talk about doing something that no-one has done before. “The objective is to go an extra step, having been at the same stage of the competition last year,” he added.