'He did it in a World Cup match' - Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique compares Brahim Diaz penalty miss to iconic Zinedine Zidane Panenka

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Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique has compared Brahim Diaz's dramatic penalty miss for Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations to Zinedine Zidane's Panenka during the 2006 World Cup final. Enrique, whose team are in UEFA Champions League league phase action away to Sporting CP on Tuesday night, has also praised Ousmane Dembele for his return to top form as the club season heats up.

'He did it in a World Cup match' - Enrique compares Diaz penalty miss to iconic Zidane Panenka

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Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique has compared Brahim Diaz’s penalty miss in the climax of the Africa Cup of Nations to Zinedine Zidane’s iconic Panenka in the final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

A chaotic end to AFCON saw Morocco star Diaz chip the ball into the arms of former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy before Pape Gueye secured Senegal’s second triumph in the tournament with a phenomenal finish in extra time.

In stark contrast, France legend Zidane scored his side’s only goal in the 2006 World Cup final against Italy, getting the better of Gianluigi Buffon with a far more cultured attempt at the famous trick shot.

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France went on to lose that game, while Zidane’s performance in the final was overshadowed by his headbutt to the chest of Italian defender Marco Materazzi.

Enrique believes nobody would have dared to criticise Diaz’s decision to attempt the Panenka if he had found the back of the net like Zidane did.

"Everyone talks about Brahim, but I recall Zidane [doing the Panenka], who is considered the god of football," he said. "He did it in a World Cup game.

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"I also remember Sergio Ramos, he did a Panenka in a very important match. Many players did that.

"When you score this kind of penalty, nobody says anything, and everyone applauds. But when you miss it, then people say negative things."

PSG will face Sporting CP in their penultimate UEFA Champions League league phase game on Tuesday evening.

The defending champions are currently third in the league phase table but only one point clear of Liverpool in ninth.

Ousmane Dembele was key to their victory in last year’s competition and Enrique believes the France forward is back to his best ahead of a crucial stage in the season.

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"Ousmane has been a leader on the pitch and it is nice when you have a player with such an individual quality that he has shown since the start," he said.

"But also, he has the character to press, showing to the team that he is ready to press both the central defender and the goalkeeper.

"If a leader does that, he is an example. I am very happy to see Ousmane Dembele back at his level."

PSG are still at risk of dropping into the play-offs but Enrique claimed that he would not mind more opportunities to see his side test themselves against European football’s finest.

"To be honest, I think it's important for the team's confidence to win and take the three points, but I'm not sure it's the best thing, because if we qualify in the top eight, we won't play in the play-offs," he added.

"And we'll already be missing the Coupe de France matches.

"But it's certain that the objective is to win and finish in the top eight teams, even if I'm not sure that's the best thing. It's contradictory."

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