Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique said that beating Lionel Messi and Inter Miami on Sunday was more difficult than it seemed despite the 4-0 Club World Cup of the French side last 16 Triumph.
The early strike by Joao Neves sent PSG ahead and then they scored three more in a flurry before the break to take an inviolable lead.
Former PSG and Barcelona star Messi impressed in the second half when Miami fought well, but could not find it.
“It is difficult to play against players of this caliber, it was difficult, but I think as a team we did an excellent job,” Luis Enrique told reporters.
“There is a visible difference between the first and second halves … their quality is clear, and I think we have earned the victory.
“It was harder than it seems, after the first half.”
The Spanish coach said his PSG team, who won the Champions League, Ligue 1 and the French Cup to claim their very first Treble ever, are in spectacular form and hopes to triumph in the United States.
“It is clear that we experience a historic season for our club, we want to go far in this competition,” Luis Enrique continued.
“We are in the quarterfinals, with eight teams left. Our goal is to claim as far as possible and compete for the trophy. But for that we have to overcome two more knockout rounds.
“The season is very long, as it is for all teams, but the motivation to be competitive is there.”
PSG wing player Ousmane Dembele said that he was “happy to see” Messi and his former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano. “Leo is a unique person to share a game with him was beautiful, I was a child who watched his magic on television, so it's unique,” said PSG defender Lucas Beraldo.
'Reality' touches
Inter Miami coach Mascherano said he was satisfied with the performance of his team at the tournament despite their final thrashing by PSG.
“We achieved the goal that we had set ourselves, we were very aware that we could compete at a certain level, and today the reality has shown that,” Mascherano told reporters.
“I am very proud of my players, at the work they did in the competition (…) that we tried to show what we could do in every game. The gap is what it is, but I am very proud of them.”
Mascherano said that his Argentinian countryman Messi could show his quality despite the defeat.
“I think Leo played a great game, within the options we had. In the second half we found him much more. In the first half we couldn't because of the pressure of Paris,” the coach said.
“They delayed their pace in the second half and we could show what we usually do in MLS (Major League Soccer).”
Although PSG is demonstrably the best team in the world at the moment, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta was filled with Inter Miami shirts, usually with eight times Ballon d'Or winner Messi's number 10 at the back.
“PSG is in great shape, champions of everything, but people still pay for a card to see Leo Messi, even at the age of 38,” added Mascherano.
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