´Football can be so cruel´ – Luis Enrique laments PSG´s ´unfair´ Coupe de France loss

Luis Enrique concedes Paris Saint-Germain’s shock Coupe de France exit felt “unfair” after a narrow derby defeat to Paris FC at the Parc des Princes.

In a game that the holders dominated, it was their neighbours who prevailed in the round of 32 on Monday, with Jonathan Ikone’s 74th-minute strike sending Paris FC into the next round.

However, it did not tell the full tale of the match as PSG racked up 25 shots, with seven of those on target, and hit the woodwork to accumulate 1.7 expected goals (xG).

By contrast, their visitors had just four attempts with only two shots on target, with those chances worth 0.5 xG.

It is just the second time in the last 20 years that PSG have failed to reach the round of 16 in the competition, with Montpellier in 2014 the last team to beat them before that stage.

And Luis Enrique had no complaints about the performance, claiming they deserved to be on the winning side.

“I think it’s pretty easy to dissect the game,” Luis Enrique said. “We played a complete game.

“We played brilliantly; we did everything right. We deserved to win, for sure. But this is a sport where goals decide everything. They scored; we didn’t. That’s football for you.

“Nevertheless, I’m really proud of the team – both as a whole and individually. The result? It hurts. It feels unfair.

“But we have to swallow it. I wish Paris FC the best of luck in the future. To be honest, I’m happy with what I saw on the pitch.”

Luis Enrique oversaw a thrilling comeback to clinch the Trophee des Champions in his last match, with PSG scoring a 95th-minute equaliser before beating Marseille on penalties.

And while they will not be able to add a record-extending 17th Coupe de France title to their collection, Luis Enrique noted that this loss was not a cause for concern.

“If you just look at the scoreboard, of course, it can look worrying,” he admitted. “But watching that game? We were so far ahead.

“Football can be so cruel. You have to learn to accept victory, even when it seems strange. This result is certainly strange.

“There’s always something to take away, even from failure. Of course, that wasn’t our goal. We love this competition. But it’s what we’ve got. If I lose the match, I’d prefer it to be like that – to give it my all.”