Outgoing Barcelona boss Luis Enrique claimed his side have the firepower to stick six goals past Paris Saint-Germain as they attempt to make Champions League history by overturning a 4-0 first-leg deficit on Wednesday.
“If they can score four goals against us, we can score six. We have nothing to lose and a lot to win” said an uncharacteristically buoyant Enrique on Tuesday.
The fierce criticism that came Enrique’s way after their humiliation in Paris three weeks ago has eased after he announced last week that he will step down after three seasons as coach at the end of the campaign.
Rather than show any ill-effects from Enrique’s decision, optimism in the Catalan capital of a stunning fightback has soared after thrashing Sporting Gijon and Celta Vigo 6-1 and 5-0 respectively in their last two outings.
“Despite the fact that the result from the first leg is very one-sided we are only halfway through the tie,” added Enrique.
“In 95 minutes an infinite amount of things can happen. I am convinced that at some point we will be close to qualifying.
“That isn’t to say we will do it, but that we will be close. And when you are close our confidence will soar and theirs could start to diminish.”
No team in the history of the Champions League has turned around a four-goal deficit.
However, the statistics back up Enrique’s confidence.
The results from more than a third of his home games as Barca coach would be good enough to at least force the game to extra time.
That record includes all three of Barca’s Champions League games this season as they dismantled Celtic (7-0), Manchester City (4-0).
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