PSG insist: We want an exceptional referee Champions League - PSG vs Real Madrid Antero Henrique spoke to L'Equipe

Prior to next Tuesday's game against Real Madrid, which will decide the future of both teams in the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain have stated, unequivocally, that they expect the referee to be exceptional.

Their thinly veiled threat stems from the performance of the official in the first leg, which left the French team wholly unsatisfied.

It follows the disastrous performance of Deniz Aytekin during the 6-1 thumping PSG received at Barcelona last season.

First it was Emery who requested a strong referee for PSG, and this Sunday, in the pages of L'Equipe, the French club's sports director, Antero Henrique, sent the same message.

Not usually very visual in the media, Henrique has decided to explain the feelings of the club after what happened at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, whilst analysing the absence of Neymar and the future of Unai Emery.

Referee

"It [the first leg] was not a game between players and players, there were influences from outside," he said.

"I don't want it to be an excuse, but everyone felt that way, for me it is a lack of respect for Paris, for France...

"But it's not just about this game, it was the same last season.

"This is an important question: why is this happening?

"We had a 44-year-old referee with no experience (Rocchi), in what was supposedly the game of the season.

"If that's the case, then we need one of the best referees and we want to have someone of an exceptional level."

Without Neymar

"It's clear that his absence is not positive," Henrique continued.

"He's the best in the world on the field and his help is fantastic, but he can also help from the outside, because of his spirit, his relationship with other players, the fans, the club... "

Regarding Neymar's injury, Henrique explained the operation decision.

"We discussed everything with the doctors of PSG and the Brazilian team and with his family," he clarified.

"Sometimes we didn't agree, but the important thing is his health, which is why we made the decision to have the operation.

"We want the best for the players, not only for Neymar, and in the end it was decided to operate, there was no debate."

Emery and his future

"It's not a topic to talk about now, he and I decided together to talk about it at the end of the season," Henrique said, somewhat cryptically.

Financial Fair Play

"We are calm, it is more an issue from outside than inside the club," he suggested.

"We have until June, there is no concern, it is not about selling players, since the level of the club is now extraordinary and there is a lot of income.

"Everything is organised and will be in order on June 30."