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PSG's Luis Enrique Targets Champions League Playoffs after Reims Draw

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v AS Saint-Etienne - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - January 12, 2025 Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v AS Saint-Etienne - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - January 12, 2025 Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo
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PSG's Luis Enrique Targets Champions League Playoffs after Reims Draw

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v AS Saint-Etienne - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - January 12, 2025 Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v AS Saint-Etienne - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - January 12, 2025 Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo

Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique has quickly turned his attention to Champions League qualification after his side were held to a 1-1 draw by Stade de Reims in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

The Spaniard knows the capital club face a tough challenge at VfB Stuttgart in the final game of the first phase on Wednesday after giving themselves a chance of a playoff spot with a 4-2 home win over Manchester City in midweek.

Regarding PSG's display at home to mid-table Reims, Luis Enrique told a press conference: "I have nothing to question my players (about). I don't think that in terms of energy the team was bad. In fact, I think it was good, Reuters reported.

"I think we have fulfilled the objective of managing this week in the best way to be prepared. Now we have to play this next Champions League game to confirm our qualification - to win or at least draw it. That's the objective," he added.

Saturday's draw took PSG 10 points clear atop Ligue 1 and Luis Enrique was quick to praise new signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia after his first game with the French champions.

"It's clear that it's a new situation for him, but it's his first game, I hope, out of many, I think he was in a positive line," said the Spaniard after Kvaratskhelia got an assist.

"He's a player who usually has the ball a lot more than the opposition and can help us generate superiority, which is a happy and fortunate thing for me as a coach."

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AC Milan Provides Drama at the San Siro with 2 Late Goals in 3-2 Comeback Win over Parma

Milan's head coach Sergio Conceicao celebrates winning the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Parma Calcio, in Milan, Italy, 26 January 2025. EPA/MATTEO BAZZI
Milan's head coach Sergio Conceicao celebrates winning the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Parma Calcio, in Milan, Italy, 26 January 2025. EPA/MATTEO BAZZI
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AC Milan Provides Drama at the San Siro with 2 Late Goals in 3-2 Comeback Win over Parma

Milan's head coach Sergio Conceicao celebrates winning the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Parma Calcio, in Milan, Italy, 26 January 2025. EPA/MATTEO BAZZI
Milan's head coach Sergio Conceicao celebrates winning the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Parma Calcio, in Milan, Italy, 26 January 2025. EPA/MATTEO BAZZI

New AC Milan coach Sergio Conceição dropped down to his knees on the San Siro sideline, unleashed a loud scream and then wrapped his arms around an assistant in an emotional embrace when Samuel Chukwueze bundled in the winner five minutes into stoppage time.
Conceição has struggled at times to transmit his desire and grit to a team that has been inconsistent in Serie A.
He was clearly moved by Milan’s ability to stay focused this time, though, as the Rossoneri scored two late goals to secure a 3-2 victory against promoted Parma on Sunday, The Associated Press reported.
Conceição’s grit was also evident after the final whistle when he had to be restrained during a heated exchange with Milan captain Davide Calabria.
“It’s like with your kids when you go to a restaurant and they misbehave and you yell at them. That’s how I am,” Conceição said. “Maybe we said a bit too much. But we’re creating a strong bond with the players.”
Conceição also guided Milan to comeback wins over Juventus and Inter Milan en route to the Italian Super Cup trophy to start the month. And a midweek win over Girona left Milan in the top eight of the Champions League standings.
“Really we need to show some of this hunger earlier in the game because it seems like we always have this energy at the end, and we’re turning the games around," said United States international Christian Pulisic, who converted a first-half penalty. "But I think we can also make things easier for ourselves.”
Milan also beat Inter in a Serie A derby in September and won 3-1 at Real Madrid in November. But in between the successes have been a series of forgettable performances in the Italian league.
Like a 1-1 draw at home with Cagliari two weeks ago, and a 2-0 loss at Juventus last weekend.
But after beating Parma, seventh-placed Milan moved back into contention for the Champions League places.
Parma remained just above the drop zone.
Chukwueze’s winner came as Milan poured forward desperately in the final moments and Strahinja Pavlovic knocked down a ball for him to push in from close range.
Three minutes earlier, Tijjani Reijnders had equalized for Milan after beating the offside trap.
It was a tough start for Milan, though, as Matteo Cancellieri put Parma ahead midway through the first half — bringing back memories of Cancellieri’s winner in a 2-1 victory for Parma against Milan in August.
Pulisic equalized before the break and then Enrico Delprato restored Parma’s advantage in the 80th by knocking in a rebound.
Up next for Conceição and Milan? The third derby this season with Inter next Sunday. First, though, there’s a visit to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Inter Milan overwhelmed relegation-threatened Lecce 4-0 with goals from Davide Frattesi, Lautaro Martinez, Denzel Dumfries and Mehdi Taremi.
Inter moved back within three points of Serie A leader Napoli, which beat Juventus 2-1 on Saturday. The Nerazzurri also still have a game in hand.
Also, Roma won 2-1 at Udinese for its first away victory of the season. Lorenzo Pellegrini and Artem Dovbyk converted second-half penalties for Roma after Lorenzo Lucca had put Udinese ahead in the first half.
In the late game, Fiorentina won 2-1 at Lazio with first-half goals from Yacine Adli and Lucas Beltran. Lazio's Pedro hit the post with the last kick of the match.