Saturday’s Club World Cup quarter-final between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in Atlanta promises to be a spectacle, with both managers forecasting fireworks when the teams meet at 5pm WAT on July 5th.
PSG coach Luis Enrique insists his side can’t rely on past success as they face Bayern’s intense pressing game. “In modern football, if you don’t adapt, you’re dead,” he said. “What worked last season won’t be enough. Opponents adjust, so we have to improve and become unpredictable.”
On the other side, Bayern boss Vincent Kompany is relishing the prospect of two attacking philosophies clashing under the closed roof of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “It creates a sort of thunderstorm,”Kompany said. “I’d pay to watch it. Both teams have quite extreme principles, and that’s why it’s usually an interesting game.”
Kompany also defended Enrique from the harsh criticism he faced after Bayern’s 1-0 win over PSG in November. “People said it was over for him, but I watched those games—they should’ve won by five most times. Six months later, look how much has changed.”
Meanwhile, PSG winger Ousmane Dembele, sent off in that November encounter, is determined to help turn the tables. “We’re stronger now. We know what to do and we can beat any team,” he said.
Saturday’s kick-off is set for 5pm WAT, and while the weather won’t interfere under the stadium roof, the managers expect plenty of storms on the pitch.
