Emery fancies PSG's chances: "We can beat the best Real Madrid"
Paris Saint-Germain's coach says the fans will have a part to play in Tuesday's return leg: "Madrid will be up against 12 players tomorrow".
Unai Emery joined Dani Alves to preview tomorrow's make-or-break, Last 16 return leg against Real Madrid in which his PSG must overturn a 3-1 disadvantage if they are to continue in the tournament. The coach urged fans to get behind the team in Paris and was unfazed by the return of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the Real Madrid squad: "I want my team to play against the best".
Read what Zinedine Zidane had to say in his pre-match news conference.
PSG almost at full strength
How is the squad?
Marquinhos, Verratti, Mbappé and Cavani all trained yesterday. Only Pastore was unable to train but we'll see how he is today. Basically, apart from Neymar, everyone is available for the game.
How will play just in front of the back four?
Thiago Motta and Lass Diarrá are fit to play and both of them have the ability and quality to perform in that role. Both of them have the experience to rise up the challenge that big games like this demand. So it's an easy decision for me because I have confidence in both of them. We'll see, both of them could play tomorrow.
Will Thiago Silva play?
It's going to be more difficult to elect who to field in central defence because all three are playing well. We'll have to see how Marquinhos is, if all three are ready… If all three are fit, we will make our decision based on small details.
Huge match for PSG and for France
Could this be PSG's most important game in recent times?
It's a very important moment whichever way you look at it, the Champions League is one of the club's objectives but other big games lie ahead of us in the future. It's a unique moment, a big moment for the fans - and also for the whole of France. It's the moment for us to take a step forward. At our ground, we are capable of putting in a great game. This is the first time in a long while that we have played the return leg at home and that changes a lot of things.
Do you think Kroos and Modric will play tomorrow?
Whoever plays for Madrid isn't a priority for me. My priority is my team, what counts is what we are going to do during the 90 minutes. I want to win the game with my best possible team and I hope that Madrid field their best players. We are capable of beating the strongest Madrid.
Will Draxler start?
When a player isn't available, another takes his place. All of our players are important - the ones who start and those who come on later. I know that the ones who take to the field tomorrow will be giving everything they've got.
Emery calls on PSG's 12th man
How will you be motivating your players?
It's easy when you have a game like this. Playing with motivation is important but we will also need to play with intelligence, use our heads are also our hearts. We will be very motivated, and I know that we will have our 12th man - our fans, who will also be important for us
Will the referee have an important part to play tomorrow?
I have faith that the ref will have a great game, I am convinced that the tie will be decided out on the field of play and the ref will get his decisions right on the night.
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