I'll adapt - Luis Enrique comments on potential Champions League tie between PSG & Chelsea

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique says he will “adapt to whatever happens” after his side booked a place in Monday’s Champions League round-of-16 draw, where Chelsea have emerged as a possible opponent.

The Ligue 1 champions progressed despite a nervy 2-2 second-leg stalemate against Monaco on Wednesday, squeezing through 5-4 on aggregate to join Newcastle United as the two seeded teams awaiting ties against the group-stage survivors. Chelsea and Barcelona, both confirmed qualifiers earlier in the week, now sit in the unseeded pot and will travel to either the Parc des Princes or St James’ Park when the knockout bracket is finalised.

Speaking after the Monaco draw, Enrique underlined that he has no preference between the two prospective adversaries. “It will either be Camp Nou or Chelsea. Neither is easy,” he said. “As it’s not about what I prefer, I’ll adapt to whatever happens. Both are incredible teams, but Barça is very special to me on an emotional level—it’s already becoming a classic.”

The Spaniard, who guided Barcelona to Champions League glory in 2015, admitted the allure of a return to his former club remains strong. “It’s always nice to come home, because Barcelona is a unique city and Barça is a very special club,” he added. “And if we have to go to London, we also have some things to improve there.”

A meeting with Chelsea would revive a rivalry that has tilted narrowly in PSG’s favour on the European stage: three wins, three draws and two defeats from eight previous Champions League encounters. The most recent knockout collision came in the 2015-16 round of 16, when Laurent Blanc’s Parisians edged Guus Hiddink’s Blues 2-1 home and away. Last summer’s one-off Club World Cup final told a different story, however, as Chelsea stunned PSG 3-0 in Abu Dhabi, courtesy of two first-half strikes from Cole Palmer.

With the draw looming, Enrique insists his focus is on preparation, not sentiment. “I know that Pep with City could face Real Madrid, and I could face Barcelona with PSG,” he noted. “Whatever the outcome, we’ll be ready.”

PSG will discover their fate when the Champions League last-16 pairings are revealed at UEFA headquarters on Monday.