It was a very satisfied Luis Enrique who presented himself for his last press conference of the year 2024 after PSG qualified in Lens on penalties in the 32nd final of the Coupe de France. The Spanish coach praised his shooters and his goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, justified the non-call-up of Marco Asensio and gave a very positive assessment of the first half of the season. Here are his comments in full, translated by us.
Were you prepared for a possible penalty shootout?
“Safonov is a penalty shootout specialist”
” Obviously. We had to be ready to play 90 minutes on the away pitch, and that was a possibility and of course we prepared for penalties. Goalkeeper coach Borja (Álvarez) worked on them with Safonov. But the player's flow also plays a role. Safonov is a penalty shootout specialist and today he demonstrated it again by saving two penalties. Our shooters were very good. We are very happy. It's always a good thing to win, but in pain it's even better. »
You only have the right to 20 players in the group and you did not retain Asensio. Was he injured?
“These (20) players were, in my eyes, the best prepared to play in this playoff match. »
We saw a lot of joy and relief after the penalty shootout and Safonov's two saves, both among the players and among the staff. Is this the ideal way to end this year 2024 and leave for the holidays?
“A brilliant way to close this year of 2024”
“There is no doubt about it. It's an excellent way for us to end this year 2024 which is part of a new page in the history of our club very different from that of previous years where we had more famous players, let's say. I believe it is a brilliant way to close this year of 2024 with the hope of starting 2025 in the same spirit and with very ambitious and very exciting goals. We are happy and we want to rest, to see our families, to recover. But I hope the future will be, and it already is, very exciting and I'm already looking forward to coming back. »
What assessment do you make of this first part of the season, on the national and international scene?
“I see more and more players in line with our expectations”
“If I go by what the team is doing, what I feel, the numbers and the statistics, I would say it’s an exceptional season. Except in the Champions League, where we would have deserved six points in the two matches against PSV and Atlético de Madrid, but where we only took one, which puts us in a delicate position in the competition. But since day one, I really like what I see from my team. I see more and more players in line with our expectations and players who want to help. And that gives me great satisfaction as a coach. So what to fear? »
Is the alternation between goalkeepers, Donnarumma and Safonov, bearing fruit?
“All goalkeepers are ready to play, including Arnau Tenas”
“All the goalkeepers are ready to play, including Arnau (Tenas, editor’s note) even if he hasn’t played a minute. That's my job as a coach…I could tell you what you want but my decisions clearly reflect what I think: I don't want to see any player at ease, comfortable or relaxed. I don't want any relaxation because I have an exceptional squad, very young but exceptional, and I want to see all the players at 100%, out of their comfort zone. I don't want any player resting on their laurels. It's the least we can ask for from our supporters who, at every match, never stop cheering until the last minute, even when we lose, whether at the Parc des Princes or away. We have to be up to standard, and that's my goal as a coach. »
You dominated the first half with several chances. What was your speech at half-time to find the fault in this Lens defense?
“We performed well throughout the match”
“The first halves are always very difficult because the opponent is physically on top, motivated, clearly ready to defend to try to hurt us in transition. We completely controlled the first half, which allowed us to create spaces and find flaws in the second half. You have to have this kind of first period to see spaces appear when the opponent is more tired. I think they played a very good match, they were dangerous in certain transitions. It's not normal to play the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France, starting for us, at this level which is more like a Cup final. But the draw wanted it that way and we accept it. We performed well throughout the match and I repeat: we are very happy with the final result. »
The next round may be more like your idea of the Cup. You face Espaly. Do you know where that stands and what it means for you to play for an amateur National 3 club?
“If I'm not mistaken, and my French geography doesn't fail me, it's close to Lyon, a little south of Lyon, right? (He resumes smiling and proud of himself) Not so stupid as the coach, eh? (In French) Thank you and Merry Christmas to everyone. »
