PA Media/dpa
London
Luis Enrique accepts Paris Saint-Germain will have to do it the hard way if they are to win the new-look Champions League.
The revamped competition will see 36 teams competing in one table, playing eight fixtures each as they battle to qualify for the knockout stages.
PSG open their campaign at home against Spanish side Girona as part of a tough initial schedule - with games against Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester City to come.
The Ligue 1 giants have lost in the last 16 in five of their last eight Champions League campaigns and Luis Enrique knows another tough ask lies ahead.
“It is clear that we do not have the same schedule as the other teams who are looking to claim the final victory, but we don’t want to hide behind that,” Luis Enrique said at a press conference.
“We know what we have to do in order to continue to progress and to go as far as possible in the competition.” Luis Enrique added: “There is no doubt that the timetable is heavy, we have two more matches (than in the previous group stage).
“We are going to analyse the competition, are going to see each other’s performance, but it is a very high-level competition and we know that the matches will all be complicated to play.
“Our goal is for this team to deliver results, it is our job. We have to constantly consider changes, to make the players and the team better.”
PSG, who have won all four of their Ligue 1 matches so far this season, will be without goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma because of a minor thigh issue sustained against Brest on Saturday.
Girona will be making their European debut at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night, having finished a surprise third in La Liga last season.
“I must admit that no one expected to see them here,” Luis Enrique said.
“But I watched all the matches of their last season and they played great football.
“I am a big fan of their coach (Michel). He is rewarded because tomorrow he will be able to compete in the Champions League in a famous stadium, so I wish them all the best - except against us.”
