Luis Enrique warns rivals PSG have improved since Champions League success

Luis Enrique has warned Paris Saint-Germain's rivals that the European champions are a better team than they were this time last season, ahead of their Champions League opener.

PSG host Atalanta on Wednesday in their league-stage curtain-raiser, looking to maintain the tradition of reigning champions starting the following campaign strongly.

Only one of the last 30 Champions League winners has lost their opening match in the following season (19 wins, 10 draws), with Liverpool losing 2-0 at Napoli in 2019.

PSG recorded the heaviest margin of victory in any European Cup or Champions League final when they thumped Inter 5-0 in May, and they have since finished as Club World Cup runners-up and started their Ligue 1 campaign with four wins from four matches. 

At Tuesday's pre-match press conference, Luis Enrique was asked if his team had dropped off since becoming champions of Europe.

"Are we playing a little less well? I disagree," he said. "It's always about analysing what we're doing. 

"Last year, it was a complicated time because of our lack of efficiency in attack. But that's the normal process of a team that wants to improve. We have more confidence than last year at this point in the Champions League."

PSG fielded a starting lineup with an average age of 25 years and 96 days in last season's final, the third-youngest XI to start any Champions League final after Ajax against Milan in 1995 (24 years, 364 days) and Real Madrid against Valencia in 2000 (25 years, 43 days).

Luis Enrique believes adding to that first European crown will prove easier for his young squad, with the Opta supercomputer giving them a 12% chance of retaining the title.

He added: "The first title is always difficult because the players don't think they are capable of winning it. But we showed the way. 

"Now, all of PSG and the young players want to win because they know they are capable of it. For me, it's more difficult to win the first than the second or third."

Captain Marquinhos agrees there is more to come, saying: "Once you've tasted it, you don't want to experience defeat. It's good to have this ambition and that's what allows us to move forward. 

"We have a very young team, with 19-year-old and 20-year-old players who can't just win one Champions League. Even me, at 31 years old."

PSG's attack will be depleted against Atalanta with Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue sidelined by injuries sustained on France duty, though Khvicha Kvaratskhelia could be available after suffering a calf issue during Sunday's 2-0 win over Lens.

Bradley Barcola scored both goals in that victory, and Marquinhos expects the 23-year-old to shine in the absence of his fellow attackers.

"In this kind of case, there are always players who can take advantage of it. Bradley is never a surprise to us," the centre-back said.

"People around him may attract more attention, but he has always been very decisive for us, especially in times when we needed him. 

"But we shouldn't put all the pressure on Barcola. Important players will not be there tomorrow, but key players who are not strikers have scored important goals, such as Fabian Ruiz, Achraf Hakimi or Nuno Mendes."