Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique has lifted the curtain with the fierce determination that his team feeds before their high-stakes Fifa Club World Cup semi-final collision with Real Madrid.
After sending Bayern Munich in an exciting quarterfinals, the ruling European champions have now set their sights on the final, but standing in the way of the unbeaten Spaniards, determined to extend their flawless run.
Both teams met 12 times before, with Los Blancos with a small advantage of five victories compared to the four French side, while three games ended in draw, which underlines the evenly matched nature of their rivalry.
In anticipation of the crucial collision at the Metlife Stadium, the Spanish tactic revealed the driving force behind the team's mindset on his way to the luminaire.
“I have nothing to say, except that it is a semi -final of the club world cup. It also means a lot to us and for them. We are going to try to control this important competition.
“We are close to playing in a final, which is sufficient to motivate ourselves,” Luis Enrique told the media during Tuesday's pre-match conference.
“It is the end of a long season, but it is possible that the players no longer play in this competition. It is a semi-final in the club World Cup.
“All players, employees and management want to write history. We have the opportunity to be world champions every four years.
“So the game of Wednesday will motivate, against one of the best clubs in Europe. Our clear goal is to win and reach the final.”
Real Madrid remains unbeaten in the FIFA Club World Cup matches, with a record of 17 wins, three draws and no losses.
He continued: “Real playing is without a doubt a special game. We are happy to play this kind of match, because it means that we have done our work well.
“A semi -final is very motivating. We, the players and the coach, are ready for Wednesday to go outside and to go another final.
“There are many things that make this a special match, but it is the chance to play in a world final that is important. We have to stay focused on the game and this semi -final.”
Impressive, Los Blancos has won 15 of their last 16 games in the tournament since 2014, with their only slip a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal in this year's group stage.
Enrique acknowledges the enormous quality within the Real Madrid team and believes that Xabi Alonso, who has joined Bayer Leverkusen, has everything needed to succeed in the Santiago Bernabeu.
“First of all, it is very difficult to analyze this real side. At the moment Alonso starts his work there. So it is difficult to analyze him and to say what he is,” he continued.
“We know that his players are individually very strong, but this is only the start of his career as a real coach. I think he has everything he needs to succeed in this club.
“We are in two completely different situations. I have been working in Paris Saint-Germain for two years and he is a coach who has just arrived in Madrid.
“We are in good shape, I don't know who's favorite is, but I am sure it will be a very good match.”
This could mark the first meeting of Kylian Mbappe against PSG since his move to Real Madrid in 2024. In particular, the French International still has to register a goal or help with one of his previous four games against his former club – his longest aimless series against each team in his career.