The spectacular 5:4 in the semi-final first leg between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Bayern thrilled soccer fans across Europe. If former PSG coach Laurent Blanc has his way, fans can expect another attacking spectacle in the second leg in Munich. The Frenchman expects another top-class duel – with plenty of goals and maximum excitement
Nine goals, chances by the minute and two teams in constant attack mode – the first semi-final between PSG and FC Bayern turned into a real Champions League classic a week ago at the Parc des Princes
This came as no surprise to Laurent Blanc, and the former Paris Saint-Germain coach even believes that the spectacle will be repeated almost identically in the second leg
„We’ll see the same game again,“ explained Blanc in an interview with the French daily newspaper Le Parisien
The former PSG coach believes the two coaches are primarily responsible for this. According to Blanc, Luis Enrique and Vincent Kompany are very similar in their soccer philosophy. „I know Luis Enrique well, Vincent Kompany less so, but he seems to be cut from the same cloth,“ said the 60-year-old
Blanc is particularly impressed by the fact that both coaches are uncompromising in their approach to the game. „Neither of them will change their own vision of soccer. And that is precisely one of their strengths,“ emphasized the former French national team coach
Blanc coached PSG between 2013 and 2016 and won three championships in a row with the Parisians. The Frenchman is still closely following the club’s development today
Blanc expressly praises Kompany and Enrique
In Blanc’s opinion, there is much to suggest that the second leg will once again be a real soccer spectacle. However, the former PSG coach expects a decisive difference to the first leg. „Only one thing will be different,“ announced Blanc. If a team is in the lead in the last „20 or 25 minutes“, they will behave more defensively and want to secure the result
This was not the case in the spectacular 5-4 win in Paris, where both teams played with an open goal until the final whistle and were constantly looking for the way forward
Nevertheless, Blanc is expecting another unpredictable clash: „We’re heading for a very unpredictable semi-final. If the attacking players are as strong as they were at the Princespark Stadium, we’re sure to see some goals,“ predicted the Frenchman
Blanc praised both coaches for their courageous approach in the first leg: „Both were exceptional,“ said the ex-professional
Blanc was particularly impressed by the consistency with which both coaches stuck to their line. „At 5-2, many coaches would have thought their job was done and brought on two defensive players. But Luis Enrique stayed true to his principles,“ explained Blanc
According to the former PSG coach, the same applies to Vincent Kompany. „He could have been tempted to minimize the damage and think about the second leg, but he didn’t,“ said Blanc, praising the Bayern coach
So it seems clear even before kick-off: European soccer can look forward to another real Champions League thriller in Munich.