In a period not so long ago, the round of 16 second leg of the Champions League played by PSG had the appearance of nightmares, a comeback and a failure on international television.
The capital club had this nasty habit of scuttling itself like a big boy, of shooting itself in the foot, as only it knows how to do.
So obviously, when it came time to appear on the pitch at Real Sociedad despite two goals in advance, there was a fear of another crash.
This threat was, undeniably, in the back of my mind.
But none of that happened this Tuesday on the Anoeta lawn.
For the first time in three years, PSG made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and they managed to do so without even trembling, without doubting, radiating a form of serenity that they had only too rarely spread in recent seasons in Europe.
This return to the continental top 8, Paris already owes it in large part to its coach who approached this double confrontation against the Spanish club with the calm and experience of those who know what they are doing, having already won the C1 in 2015 with Barça.
In the Anoeta bays, certain club employees had fun asking journalists for the Spaniard's score in order to prove his influence on the appearance of the match.
This Tuesday evening, Luis Enrique once again made bold choices (Nuno Mendes starting, Lucas Hernandez right axis, Dembélé in 10) but which proved to be profitable and decisive.
The decision to place Kylian Mbappé on the left side rather than in the center, where he played for more than three months, also bore fruit given the permanent danger brought by the attacker.
" Choices ?
It was the key to the match."
“We are happy and satisfied.
The team responded.
We were ambitious, the PSG coach was satisfied.
We had a good match and we prevented Real from entering this match.
Our goal was to generate superiority.
We had options to face the goal.
The team was great.
Kylian must not be managed, he manages himself.
He had a more fixed position than usual.
He was more on the left wing to give him more freedom and in front of goal, he is lethal.
»
Read alsoReal Sociedad-PSG: Mbappé remarkable, Zaire-Emery found, Dembélé released, the notes of the Parisian players
As is often the case with Luis Enrique, the emphasis was placed on controlling the game and the midfield.
And in this game, the bet was successful by installing Ousmane Dembélé in this role of playmaker capable of bringing the surplus into the midfield.
Enough to offer a certain comfort to his team in control.
“The coach’s choices?
I think that was the key to the match, we still had superiority in the middle, it was important to have control of the ball, recognizes Vitinha, still excellent as a sentry.
Real Sociedad is a team that, like us, is better with than without the ball, it was important to have possession.
We did that well until halfway through the second half I would say.
Afterwards it's normal, Real loses 2-0 and the team wants to do something at home.
They pushed a little more and unfortunately we conceded a goal.
But it's a great match, a great qualification.
»
His midfield partner, Warren Zaire-Emery also did not fail to emphasize the importance of Luis Enrique in this result acquired with calm and serenity.
“It feels good to be qualified.
We came here to win and we did it, enjoying “WZE” on Canal +.
We played very well overall, we did what the coach asked and it worked.
We prepared well for the match.
We will continue to work to win the next matches.
» The young talent arrived fresh after blowing the last few matches and looked in great shape.
It alone illustrates the good physical management of the team by the coach who had taken care to manage the bodies.
“No one beats us in ambition”
Ambitious, conquering, confident, this team does not seem to be shy and seems driven by a crazy desire to overturn everything, to continue writing its own story.
Even though he lined up PSG's youngest starting lineup in the Champions League this Tuesday (23 years and 361 days), Luis Enrique can pride himself on having instilled a real climate of confidence within his group which never showed signs of excitement despite pressure from Anoeta.
“There is one thing: no one beats us in ambition,” explains the Spanish technician.
Nobody has as much ambition as us and we have never won the Champions League.
You have to ask the rivals if they want to fall on PSG.
No one will say yes.
We were one of the best teams in the group stage.
We are improving.
We will approach the next round with the same ambition.
We can get better results but it's not a problem for me.
We can beat anyone.
The important matches are coming and we are not afraid.
» Europe has been warned: Paris does not intend to stop there.