“There is a blockage in terms of finishing in the Champions League,” recognizes Luis Enrique

Continue so quickly after Atlético : “It's good. It's positive to be able to be in the competition again. Top players are used to having good… and bad results.”

Désiré Doué : “Alright. There are no mathematical rules in Football. Some players have it easier, others less so, perhaps a French player has an easier time adapting but this is not always the case, each case is different. Most players adapt easily, others more slowly. Désiré Doué is a top player for the future and today. He needs to have the right mentality to help the team today.”

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Champions League: on the brink of the abyss in C1, PSG advocates patience… but will move this winter

Some of these players wanted to come. And they could come. But the price was exorbitant.

Luis Enrique, on last summer's transfer window

Recruit a striker this winter : “I never complain about players I don't have or injured players. I would like to take this opportunity to say that no, I don't have a shortage of players. During the last transfer window, there were several players that we tried to recruit, in different positions, but who could not come because their club did not want to sell them. Some of these players wanted to come. And they could come. But the price was exorbitant. And we are not going to pay exorbitant amounts. But with the players who came, I am very satisfied with the transfer window last summer, with the players we have. And from there, we will develop the team as best we can in order to solve our problems. We lack efficiency in the Champions League, it's true. We saw it. We are below our level in C1, it’s true. The objective? Progress. Afterwards, it's not as if there was an on and off button to press, that's not how sport works, it would be too easy. There are arguments and resources to improve this. But it does not depend on a player, an injured person, a recruit. I see things differently. We will develop, progress. There is a blockage, it's true, the figures are different between Ligue 1 and the Champions League. We have good results in the championship. The C1 is more difficult and we have to play against very good teams, but there are solutions. The situation is very delicate in the Champions League, we have to accept it. We will try to get by with our own resources.”

How to resolve this lack of efficiency in C1 : “Doubt? I would rather speak of an excess of responsibility. I'm not 100% sure. But when we look at last season, we have the impression that the Champions League is another world. But if you think you'll win it by putting extra pressure on yourself, that's a bad bet. We are not favorites. You shouldn't put extra pressure on yourself. We would reduce our resources if we create new blockages. We have to face this, see it in a positive and optimistic way. We will improve our statistics. When ? I hope from the next match.

Six victories in C1 only under Luis Enrique since last season : “It’s typical… It all depends on what you want to get out of it. We were in the group of death last season. I accept the statistics but it's quite biased to present it like that. I accept being asked this type of question.”

His solutions to the center forward position : “What am I waiting for? What we've all been waiting for. I could defend the idea of ​​playing with a false 9, I could tell you what it's like to play in a 9. But those are my decisions. I always look for the best for my team. What I consider appropriate for the team will not influence what we say outside. We can criticize the false 9 when we don't score and we will forget when he scores. I know this kind of criticism, I accept it. I use a 9 when it's appropriate, depending on what I want, and also other profiles that will bring other things that I consider important for the team. There is no coach who does not put on the field the players he considers to be the best. We can like them or not, find them effective or not, I accept that.”

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We're good in the championship but it's swampy terrain in C1.

Luis Enrique

His state of mind after Atlético : “How are you. After a match like Wednesday, and I've experienced others, it's difficult to speak in the heat of the moment because the emotions will absorb everything and the result means that you don't see anything positive. The ideal for the coach would be that there is no press conference right after the matches (smile). But for the show, it's better… In short, I feel good, perfect, the more difficulties, the better. My competitive DNA pushes me to want to improve for the next match, I see the positives. We accept the fact that there is a blockage in terms of finishing, we must not hide it, and it is something general, it does not only concern one player. We must overcome this, through trust, by creating clearer situations and with a collective mentality. But as far as I'm concerned, I feel very good, positive, optimistic. I know this is a medium and long term project, there will be ups and downs. We're good in the championship but it's swampy ground in C1. We will play against favorites for the European title (Bayern, City). It’s a delicate situation that we need to resolve.”

How to overcome this blockage : “It’s a question of dynamics. Everyone tries to do a little more, but when confidence becomes negative, when there is a blockage, we will come down from the mountain… But we try to see what we can do on the ground to overcome that. There are resources that we will use to change this, but once again, it is not enough to press an on/off button. There are resources to help players and that’s my job.”

Little overstepping of duties and taking initiative among those in the environment : “The midfielders have the obligation to project themselves into the area, to score, to make decisive passes. This is not the case. If there is one characteristic to highlight for PSG, my teams, it is to attack, to put pressure and the figures are impressive, the number of attacks, shots in the area… We are there team which has the fewest shots conceded, but it is true that in terms of efficiency, there are problems, the statistics show it. From there, you have to see the positive. The excess positivity of my players is good, they try to win, we have to do it in a more calm and calm way. The team is strong and must resolve this. It’s not just one or two players.”

Vitinha less decisive : “It’s the same answer as the previous question: all midfielders have an obligation to score and make assists. If we want to resolve this as a team, it is not a question that only concerns the midfielders, the wingers, the attackers… All the players have the same job, with the idea of ​​always having this mobility to enter the box with four or five players. Who makes the pass? Never mind. We are one of the teams with the most players in the opposing area. The instructions are clear. All players have a responsibility but it's part of football that a player is not at his best. But there are no instructions not to go into the area or not to shoot.

Work in training on finishing : “The situation is clear. We make video to identify points where we can progress, decision-making, there is no team that does not train on finishing, there is specific work, we do it every week, we are no exception. But I repeat: you should not focus on just one thing. When you do it, it becomes an obsession. You have to be calm, prepare for matches in the best way. Football is a sport where there will always be missed opportunities, maybe not as many as is the case for us at the moment… But we will improve and I am sure that my players have the ability.”

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It will have to be rotated. There will be changes (in the 11 in Angers).

Luis Enrique

Four finals in C1 : “The most important match is tomorrow. Questions of efficiency do not arise in Ligue 1. There is not this additional pressure. The numbers are good. With so little rest time, it will be necessary to rotate. We will have to have a good match with the collective. Angers will be very motivated, they play at home and have had good results in the last matches, it will be a difficult match.

Angers : “It’s a team that has shown that it knows how to defend close to its goal, they know what to do to take up space with their wingers and their center forward, they can create problems in transitions. Tomorrow, it will be another competition, an away match, we know the importance of this type of match. We want to show the same image as usual in the championship. It can help us for what comes next. There will be changes (in the 11th). It won't be an easy match. I need all the players ready.”

Comments collected at a press conference

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