Paris St Germain boss Luis Enrique insists his side want to be crowned champions “as soon as possible” as they prepare to visit Montpellier on Sunday.

Despite drawing their last three matches, the reigning champions sit 10 points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 table and also have hopes of securing a treble as they still remain in the Champions League and Coupe de France.

Luis Enrique hopes to wrap up their third straight league title as quickly as possible to free up squad members heading into the home straight of the season.

He told the PSG website: “We want to keep improving. It won’t be an easy game, it’s never easy away from home. We need to be focused. We’re fighting to win titles and win every game. We want to continue our good run.

“It’s true that we’ve drawn three games in a row in the league, but I’m not worried because we’ve also been very good in the Coupe de France, in the Champions League and at Monaco.

“We’re not looking at the points difference, we just want to be champions as soon as possible. We want to fight for all the titles and at Montpellier, who will be playing in front of their fans, it will be difficult.”

PSG have already beaten Sunday’s opponents this season and are heavy favourites heading into the contest against Montpellier who are in a fight to stay in the division as they sit just one point above the relegation places.

Luis Enrique added: “I don’t care whether we’re favourites or not. I’ve passed on my confidence to the team, and I think we’ll be better, with the experience of the players in this competition.

“We have the same ambition as at the start of the season. We want to continue with this idea, so that our supporters are proud of us. If someone beats us, we’ll congratulate them. I can put anyone on the pitch on Sunday and they’ll be ready. That’s our biggest advantage.”

PSG will face Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, which means Luis Enrique will be in the dugout against his old side.

The former Barca boss insists it will be surreal lining up against the club he used to manage.

He said: “I’m very happy! It’s a very special feeling for me.

“Paris and Barcelona are two teams that have played each other several times. We’ve been lucky because we’re returning to Spain and we Spaniards love our country very much. I’m returning to the city where I spent a large part of my career, so that’s good news. We knew we were going to face a top team.

“We’ll have to show on the pitch that we deserve to go through.”

What the papers say

Liverpool midfielder Luis Diaz has become a summer transfer target for Paris St Germain, according to the Daily Mail, as the club looks to replace French star Kylian Mbappe, who will leave for Real Madrid. Diaz joined Liverpool from Forto and has excelled at Anfield, scoring six goals with three assists in 27 Premier League games.

Chelsea are interested in Lille defender Leny Yoro as they look to replace 39-year-old Brazilian centre-back Thiago Silva, the Standard says.

The Telegraph says Newcastle are hoping to accelerate sporting manager Dan Ashworth’s exit to Manchester United. Monaco’s Paul Mitchell is apparently at the top of the pile to replace him.

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Marcus Rashford: The Manchester United striker is not expected to move to Paris St Germain this summer despite being touted as the replacement for Mbappe, according to Sky Sports.

Douglas Luiz: Aston Vila are confident they will keep the 25-year-old despite Arsenal setting their sights on the Brazilian midfielder, 90min reports.

What the papers say

The future of Marcus Rashford at Manchester United continues to attract plenty of speculation. The Daily Star says Paris St-Germain are preparing an £80million bid for the England forward, 26, on a weekly salary of £500,000 a week.

United are prioritising a centre-back on their summer shopping list, according to i Sport. As well as Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, 21, Juventus’ Brazilian defender Gleison Bremer, 26, is among their top targets.

Manchester City and Liverpool are interested in Germany midfielder Jamal Musiala, 21, reports the Daily Mail. Chelsea would collect a sell-on fee if Bayern Munich opt to sell for around £80million.

Arsenal are looking across the Atlantic for a potential replacement for England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. The Daily Telegraph says they are keen on 23-year-old Columbus Crew and United States goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.

Social media round-upPlayers to watch

Romelu Lukaku: Chelsea are willing to sell the 30-year-old striker, who is on loan at Roma, and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, currently on loan at Real Madrid, to Saudi Pro League clubs, reports Talksport.

Matias Soule: Southampton will target the Argentinian striker, 20, from Juventus if they return to the Premier League, according to Italian outfit Calciomercato, with Crystal Palace, Newcastle and Aston Villa also interested.

Paris Saint Germain eased into the semi-final of the Coupe de France as Kylian Mbappe’s goal helped Luis Enrique’s side to a 3-1 win over Nice.

Coming off the back of three consecutive Ligue 1 draws that had seen their lead at the top of the table cut to 10 points, PSG maintained their bid to win three trophies this season as they comfortably dispatched Francesco Farioli’s team at the Parc de Princes.

Mbappe struck after just 14 minutes to give the home side the lead.

Ousmane Dembele’s cross from the right took a deflection and landed at the striker’s feet, and after playing a one-two with Fabian Ruiz he burst beyond Jean-Clair Todibo and on the stretch poked the ball between goalkeeper Marcin Bulka’s legs from close range.

Ruiz made it two just past the half-hour mark, taking advantage of confusion in the visitors’ defence.

Todibo played a ball back to Bulka but the former PSG keeper was promptly put under pressure by Dembele.

As he sought to clear his lines, his kick deflected into the path of Dembele, who cushioned it down and played it to Ruiz who finished into an empty goal with Bulka stranded.

Gaetan Laborde pulled one back to restore interest in the tie for Nice, Jeremie Boga setting off on a weaving run down the left and advancing on goal, stopped only by an intervention by Lucas Beraldo.

However, his clearance made it only as far as Laborde, who hit it past Gianluigi Donnarumma on the half-volley to restore Champions League-chasing Nice’s hopes of progressing.

It proved only a temporary blip for Enrique’s team, and on the hour mark Beraldo headed past Bulka to make it 3-1.

Lee Kang-in collected a short corner and whipped a ball into the box, seeing his cross taken only just off the head of Goncalo Ramos by a glancing clearance from Dante.

His interception made it only as far as Beraldo, who reached it with his head to turn it into the bottom corner and keep PSG on course for a domestic double.

Things could have got better for the home side had Mbappe not struck a post in search of his second goal, and Lee also came close to making it four when his free-kick was turned onto the crossbar by a diving save from Bulka.

PSG move on to face Rennes on April 3 for a place in the final.

Paris St Germain boss Luis Enrique is treating their Coupe de France quarter-final clash with Nice “like a final” as they look to avenge their league defeat earlier in the season.

PSG have won the competition a record 14 times and will be looking to reclaim the trophy for the first time since 2021.

Enrique’s side have run riot in the competition so far, beating sixth-tier Revel 9-0 and US Orleans from the third tier 4-1 but Enrique knows Nice will provide a tougher challenge.

He told a press conference: “It’ll be a very interesting game.

“One of the teams will be knocked out after the final whistle, so that means it’ll be a very open and complex game.

“There will be high pressing and commitment from both teams. It’s a match we’re really looking forward to, and we’re treating it like a final.

“The Coupe de France is a very attractive competition, just as cup competitions are in every country. They’re historic competitions that lots of fans love.

“It’s difficult, because the games are played over just 90 minutes and then it’s straight to penalties. So tomorrow, we’ll have to be better than Nice throughout the whole of the game.”

Ligue 1 leaders PSG sit 10 points clear the top of the table and have only suffered a single defeat so far, that being to Wednesday’s opponents when they slipped to a 3-2 defeat at home in September.

Despite that, Enrique says revenge will not be on their mind come kick-off.

He said: “There’s not a feeling of revenge. Our game against Nice is our only defeat of the league season, and up until a few weeks ago, they were title rivals.

“They’re a very good team with and without the ball. Along with Brest, they have the best defensive record, and they’re also the team that gives up the fewest chances.

“I like this team a lot, it’ll be a very tough game. But tomorrow there won’t be a feeling of revenge.”

France winger Ousmane Dembele has enjoyed a successful debut season at PSG so far this term since arriving from Barcelona.

Dembele has proved to be one of the most creative players in the league with 11 assists to his name in all competitions and Enrique thinks he is one of PSG’s best players at the moment.

He added: “Ousmane Dembele is one of our best players, and I think he’s one of the best players in terms of winning one-on-one situations.

“We know the majority of teams keep things compact in the middle of the pitch, so Ousmane usually plays out wide.

“But Real Sociedad were pressing well on the flanks, so I wanted to put Ousmane in the middle for that game to better exploit the space.”

Paris St Germain drew for a third successive Ligue 1 game as the leaders were held 2-2 by Reims at the Parc des Princes.

Having seen Marshall Munetsi’s seventh-minute finish give the visitors a surprise lead, a much-changed PSG equalised 10 minutes later through a Yunis Abdelhamid own goal before Goncalo Ramos put them in front another two minutes on from that.

But Will Still’s Reims were back on level terms late in the first half thanks to Oumar Diakite, and with Kylian Mbappe’s attempts to produce a winner after coming off the bench proving unsuccessful, a point was the outcome for Luis Enrique’s side once again, having drawn 1-1 with Rennes and 0-0 at Monaco in their previous two league outings.

It sees PSG go 10 points clear at the top of the table with 11 games remaining, with second-placed Brest having been beaten 1-0 at Lens on Saturday.

Mbappe – scorer of a brace in Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League win at Real Sociedad – dropping to the bench, along with the likes Ousmane Dembele and Gianluigi Donnarumma, was among six changes Enrique opted to make to his starting line-up from that game.

After Danilo headed into Reims’ side-netting, there was an early jolt for the champions as Achraf Hakimi was punished for a mistake, being dispossessed in his own area by Diakite, who teed up a simple finish for Munetsi.

PSG responded with Ramos bringing a save out of Yehvann Diouf and Hakimi and the Portugal forward seeing efforts deflect wide, before drawing level when Reims captain Abdelhamid, under pressure from Ramos, diverted a corner into his own net.

Ramos then swiftly put them ahead with a deflected shot after the ball fell to him in the box when Valentin Atangana attempted to intercept a cross.

Reims did not look disheartened by the quick turnaround and after Munetsi and Teddy Teuma struck off-target for the visitors, either side of Diouf saving a Hakimi shot, they were level again on 45 minutes when Diakite latched on to Emmanuel Agbadou’s through-ball and sent a sidefooted effort past Keylor Navas and in off the post.

Further chances for the away side after the break saw Agbadou head over from close range and a Mohamed Daramy shot saved by Navas, before Diouf parried Lee Kang-in’s effort at the other end.

With 17 minutes of normal time remaining, Enrique brought on Mbappe and Dembele, and the former saw a low shot from outside the box comfortably saved by Diouf soon after.

Mbappe subsequently put a curler just wide of the top corner, and had another strike dealt with by Diouf in the closing stages as PSG’s sequence of draws extended.

Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique knows his side cannot allow their standards to drop as they head into the defining part of the season.

After securing their place in the last eight of the Champions League, the Ligue 1 leaders host Reims on Sunday and then face Nice aiming to reach the semi-finals of the Coupe de France.

Enrique insists the players must stay focused on delivering the required performance levels during such a crucial run of fixtures.

“Against Reims, the tension will be high because we played in the Champions League this week” the PSG coach said.

“We need to take this factor into account. We will need to be at our best tomorrow.

“And against Nice, in the Coupe de France afterwards, there will be a lot at stake since we want to win everything.”

Enrique added in a press conference: “We are pleased to have qualified (in Europe), but we are focusing on the present, we need to concentrate on the upcoming match against Reims in the league.

“I remember the first match against them, it was also after a Champions League match. We won in a not-so-easy encounter.

“We will need to be at our best once again and we expect a tough match, also because we used up a lot of energy on Tuesday.”

PSG will again be without centre-back Marquinhos, who has been managing an Achilles problem and was an unused substitute for the Champions League win over Real Sociedad, while Marco Asensio continues his recovery programme on a hamstring strain.

Kylian Mbappe scored twice on Tuesday night, having been taken off at half-time of the previous Ligue 1 game at Monaco.

Enrique feels PSG need to maintain flexibility as they look to sustain challenges on all fronts.

“Players may change on the field, but the intentions remain the same,” he said.

“We also want to be as unpredictable as possible and we are all working together on this approach.”

Reims coach Will Still says his side must not believe their season is over already following a run of just one win in the last six league games.

“We have to remove the idea that we have nothing left to play for,” Still told a press conference.

“We are ninth, a few points behind the teams in front – just because results have been more frustrating lately doesn’t mean we should question everything.

“We are not going to go there and crash, but to play and try to give the best image of Reims.”

Harry Kane fired Bayern Munich into the quarter-finals of the Champions League as the German side overturned a first-leg deficit against Lazio with a 3-0 win at the Allianz Arena.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Rome, Bayern were kept out until Kane headed home from close range – his 50th goal in European competition.

Thomas Muller doubled the lead on the night with another header seconds before the break as Matthijs de Ligt’s volley flashed across the six-yard area.

Lazio’s best chance had fallen to Ciro Immobile, their spot-kick scorer from the first game, just moments before Kane had levelled the tie.

But Immobile planted his header wide from six yards when it appeared easier to score.

Bayern sealed their progress into the last eight of a competition they have won six times after 66 minutes.

Leroy Sane’s shot was parried into the path of Kane, who had to adjust his feet sharply to score his second on the night and 33rd Bayern goal in as many appearances.

Kylian Mbappe’s brace saw Paris St Germain cruise into the quarter-finals, with a 2-1 win at Real Sociedad completing a 4-1 aggregate victory.

With a 2-0 lead in their pocket from the first leg, PSG were comfortable throughout.

Mbappe, the top scorer across Europe’s top five leagues so far this season, offered an early warning sign when he turned a shot narrowly over the bar from Fabian Ruiz’s cut-back in the fifth minute.

PSG were the dominant force and went ahead after 15 minutes through Mbappe’s fifth Champions League goal of the season, bending the ball across goal and inside the far post.

Mbappe punished Sociedad again 11 minutes into the second half, bursting on to Lee Kang-in’s through ball and whipping the ball in majestically at the near post. Mikel Merino scored a consolation for Sociedad a minute from time.

Kylian Mbappe’s brace saw Paris St Germain cruise into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 2-1 win away to Real Sociedad completing a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Mbappe should soon play in the same league as Sociedad once his long-mooted Real Madrid move is complete but he showed he is a level above the San Sebastian side with his clinical finishing making the difference on the night.

With a 2-0 lead in their pocket from the first leg, PSG were comfortable throughout, with the only blot coming when Mikel Merino scored a consolation goal a minute from time.

Mbappe, the top scorer across Europe’s top five leagues so far this season, offered an early warning sign when he turned a shot narrowly over the bar from Fabian Ruiz’s cut-back in the fifth minute.

Sociedad went to the other end, where PSG defender Nuno Mendes was relieved to see his header go just wide of the post as he cut out Sheraldo Becker’s cross.

PSG were the dominant force and they went ahead after 15 minutes through Mbappe’s fifth Champions League goal of the season.

Ousmane Dembele played the ball into the left channel and the France striker cut back from the byline and bent the ball across goal and inside the far post, leaving Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro, unsighted by his own defenders, rooted to the spot.

Remiro would have better luck in the 29th minute when he made a superb save to keep out Mbappe’s low shot at his front post, but PSG were bossing the game.

Sociedad’s most dangerous moment came late in the half when Takefusa Kubo’s shot from range sailed just wide of Gianluigi Donnarumma’s post.

But 11 minutes into the second half, Mbappe killed off any remaining sense that Sociedad were in the contest.

Lee Kang-In’s ball through gave Mbappe the freedom to run at goal uncontested, and he opened up his body as if shaping for the far post before whipping the ball in at the near post with Remiro wrong-footed.

Sociedad had the ball in the net in the 63rd minute when Ander Barrenetxea headed home but the flag went up for offside.

Sociedad took encouragement as they stepped up their attacks, having found fresh impetus from a series of substitutions.

Merino turned his chance wide from the centre of the area and, late on, Jon Ander Olasagasti saw his close-range effort deflected over the crossbar.

They would finally reward the vocal support of their fans at the very end. Benat Turrientes drilled in a cross from the right, Donnarumma got a strong hand to it but could only push it out to Merino, who had a relatively simple task to rifle home from the centre of the goal.

What the papers say

Manchester United and Paris St Germain have emerged as the frontrunners to land the signature of Victor Osimhen in the summer. According to The Independent, Chelsea and Arsenal are also interested in the Napoli forward.

The Telegraph reports Newcastle are edging closer to inking a new deal with midfielder Joelinton. The 27-year-old has little over a year left on his current deal, but the two parties are believed to be on similar terms with negotiations proving productive thus far.

Tottenham have reportedly taken an interest in Sporting Lisbon midfielder Morten Hjulmand. The Sun, citing Portuguese paper Record, says Spurs sent scouts to watch the Denmark international in action as Sporting beat rivals Benfica 2-1 last Thursday, with a view to a potential summer move for the 24-year-old.

And the i says Newcastle intend to send 19-year-old winger Yankuba Minteh out on loan for a second successive season. Minteh has been at Dutch side Feyenoord this season.

Social media round-upPlayers to watch

Alphonso Davies: Real Madrid are willing to offer as much as £43m for the Bayern Munich defender, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Archie Brown: HITC reports Chelsea, Leeds and West Ham are all monitoring the English defender, currently playing for Belgian side Gent.

Paris St Germain boss Luis Enrique has offered Kylian Mbappe no guarantees about his playing time in the Champions League.

The reported wantaway striker was taken off at half-time during PSG’s goalless draw with Monaco on Friday, having been substituted just over an hour into the draw against Rennes a week earlier.

Asked what he expected from Mbappe in their second leg at Real Sociedad on Tuesday night, Enrique told a press conference: “I expect my team to be up to the level of the game and to approach it in the way we have throughout the season.

“I can see that the team is full of confidence and we have a clear target, which is to try to win the game.

“We want to beat Real Sociedad away from  home, but it will certainly be very tough.”

PSG lead 2-0 from the first leg and Enrique added: “It is an attractive position to be in and we have the desire to be in this competition.”

Enrique confirmed that full-back Nuno Mendes was fit to start following his lengthy injury absence.

Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil knows his side face a tough task to overturn the two-goal deficit, but is hopeful they can spring a surprise.

“I will ask the team to show personality, just like in Paris. We made it clear over there that we are capable,” he said.

“For our part, we will do everything we can to achieve it. I want the best atmosphere, both on and off the pitch. It won’t be easy, but we are full of hope. The important thing is to compete and to stay alive.”

Kylian Mbappe was substituted at half-time as runaway Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain were held to a goalless draw at his former club Monaco.

France star Mbappe, who is set leave PSG in the summer, waved to home supporters at Stade Louis II as he emerged from the tunnel to take a seat in the stands for the second period.

The 25-year-old forward had little impact on the opening 45 minutes and it was unclear whether his premature departure was due to an injury.

He was pictured grimacing and holding his right leg at one stage.

Mbappe was also withdrawn by head coach Luis Enrique 25 minutes from time in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Rennes.

PSG were indebted to a string of first-half saves from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in securing a stalemate which extends their lead over second-placed Brest to 12 points.

Monaco, who also hit the crossbar through Wissam Ben Yedder in the second half, remain third, a point behind Brest.

Yet the major talking point centred on PSG captain Mbappe, who opted against sitting alongside team-mates after being replaced by Randal Kolo Muani.

The reigning French champions arrived in the principality seeking to return to winning ways having required a last-gasp Goncalo Ramos penalty to salvage a point at home to Rennes five days ago.

Enrique’s side were second best for much of the opening period.

Impressive Italy international Donnarumma repelled former Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun early on before producing two fine saves to deny ex-Liverpool man Takumi Minamino.

PSG also survived a major scare in the 25th minute when the hosts had the ball in the net. Monaco captain Ben Yedder coolly rounded Donnarumma and rolled home after the lively Balogun caused problems for the visitors’ defence, only to be flagged offside.

Marco Asensio, who limped off injured before the break, had PSG’s best chance of the first half but he directed his effort too close to Monaco keeper Radoslaw Majecki.

Following the headline-grabbing scenes of Mbappe walking around the stadium’s running track to take up position among the crowd, PSG actually looked a greater threat.

However, they narrowly escaped just before the hour mark when Ben Yedder cracked the woodwork with a sizzling volley.

Poland international Majecki was busier in the second period and produced a strong save to deny PSG midfielder Vitinha.

Despite applying sustained late pressure, the away team could not snatch victory as they switch focus to their Champions League last-16 second leg at Real Sociedad amid question marks over Mbappe.

Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique insists they will have a better team next season even after the expected departure of star forward Kylian Mbappe.

It is understood the 25-year-old France international, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has told the club he wants to join Real Madrid this summer, a move which has been touted for a number of years.

“It doesn’t cross my mind that the team will be weaker next season. I’m absolutely sure,” Enrique told a press conference ahead of Friday’s match against Mbappe’s former club Monaco.

“If everything goes well, I think and I’m convinced that we’ll have a better team next season.

“Me, I always want to try to improve the team and I think there is always a way to improve.”

PSG, who have an 11-point advantage at the top over Brest, have lost just once in Ligue 1 this season – back in September and are on course for a 10th title in the last 12 years.

“I am very happy with all the efforts we made, with the results we obtained,” added Enrique.

“We are following a very good trajectory. Now we are entering a difficult period, the key period, the best of the season.

“It’s all or nothing, and it’s a feeling we love. We have to continue to be true to our idea, to what got us here, to try to dominate the matches from the start.

“We don’t need to improve the general idea, but we need to improve the details.”

While Monaco are currently third they are 13 points behind and have lost six times this season, including four at home.

“Monaco are one of the best teams in the league and a direct competitor of ours in the title race,” said the PSG boss.

“We know that we’ve got a tough game ahead of us tomorrow, so we’ll put out a highly competitive side.”

A late Goncalo Ramos penalty rescued a point for Paris St Germain as they drew 1-1 with Rennes in Ligue 1.

Although PSG retained the majority of possession in the first-half, Rennes took their chance and Amine Gouiri fired them in front with a stunning effort into the top-corner.

The hosts wasted a series of chances in the second-half and looked destined for a second league defeat this season before Ramos scored from the spot deep into stoppage-time.

A draw means PSG now hold an 11 point advantage over second-placed Brest, who beat Strasbourg on Saturday, while Rennes move into seventh.

A quiet start to proceedings saw the hosts take control but fail to really test Rennes.

Vitinha had the first decent chance of the match in the 20th minute, when his low strike forced Steve Mandanda into a great fingertip save to push the ball behind for a corner.

Christopher Wooh then did well to stick a boot out to deny Ousmane Dembele’s through ball to Kylian Mbappe as the hosts struggled to find the breakthrough.

Despite PSG’s dominance in the first half, it was Rennes who took the lead in the 33rd minute after taking advantage of their first chance of the game.

Gouiri broke through the centre of the pitch and launched into a brilliant run, weaving around the Parisian defence before flicking the ball forward to clip it with the outside of his boot into the top-right corner.

The Algeria striker had another opportunity to double their lead minutes later after taking the ball past Danilo Pereira but fired wide.

Achraf Hakimi fired a free-kick well over the bar early in the second half as PSG searched for the equaliser and the Morocco international came close from another set-piece which curled just wide of the far post.

Their frustrations continued when Dembele burst down the right and found an unmarked Mbappe lurking on the edge of the area in plenty of space, but the captain dispatched a low effort wide.

Mandanda then made a great save, getting a strong hand to claw away Dembele’s strike from the right before Mbappe threatened again with a powerful effort that whistled just over the bar.

Rennes missed an incredible opportunity to extend their lead in the 69th minute when a low cross from the left was fed into Benjamin Bourigeaud at the near post, but the midfielder bundled his shot wide.

PSG had another great chance from a corner when Fabian flicked a header on to Pereira, who headed over the bar.

The hosts had a penalty ruling overturned by VAR in the final 10 minutes when Ramos dived in the box.

Bourigeaud then had a dangerous free-kick punched away by Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 90th minute before Fabian volleyed the ball past the post.

Late drama saw Ramos go down in the box again and, following a consultation with VAR, a penalty was awarded, which the striker blasted into the top corner in the sixth minute of stoppage-time to salvage a point.

Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique has warned his side’s commanding advantage at the top of Ligue 1 could begin to work against them in the second half of the season.

PSG began the weekend 13 points clear of second-placed Brest before the latter’s trip to Strasbourg on Saturday evening, well on course to secure a third consecutive league title.

But Enrique is wary of the size of the lead his side hold going into their match at home to Rennes on Sunday, admitting a little more pressure from their domestic opponents might keep them sharper as they look to go deep in this season’s Champions League.

“We’re very happy with the distance between us and second place,” Enrique said. “It’s something we have to fight against for a lot of weeks. It’s perhaps a handicap that we need to control. Our aim is to win matches and win all the competitions we take part in.

“Obviously, if we had an opponent closer to us in the league table, we might be a little more prepared and the players would prepare themselves more spontaneously. In any case, you have to be a little more motivated. We can do it very well.

“We’re the most consistent team in the league. But now we’ve got the last third of the season coming up and we need to perform well in all competitions. There are a lot of good tests coming up. It’s going to be very difficult on Sunday and this match will help us prepare for the matches that follow.”

PSG have won their last five matches in all competitions and are on an 18-match unbeaten run that dates back to the 2-1 defeat to AC Milan in November.

“It’s always positive to have a good run of results,” Enrique added. “But the coach always has to make sure it doesn’t get complicated. It’s good to have good momentum, but you mustn’t let up.

“That’s what I fight for every week, in training and when preparing for matches. Good results also mean that you have to stay focused, both in matches and in training.”

Rennes, seventh in Ligue 1, are enjoying some superb form themselves. Julien Stephan’s side have won 10 of their last 11 games, with the exception being a Europa League defeat, also against Milan.

Rennes lost the first leg of their tie against the Italians 3-0, meaning that Thursday’s 3-2 victory was not enough to keep them in the competition.

Speaking after that match, Stephan said: “Disappointment or satisfaction? Pride wins out…It’s a great source of pride to have won against Milan. Even if it’s difficult to compare eras, it’s probably the most prestigious victory in the European history of Rennes, so we have to appreciate that.”

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