Sundayin the cadre of the 7th day of Ligue 1 2024-2025, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) will face Nice (9e) at the Allianz Riviera (kick-off at 20h45, diffusion on DAZN). On the eve of this meeting, Parisian coach Luis Enrique answered several questions at a press conference.
Enrique “I always try to protect my players.”
Ousmane Dembélé has returned to training, is everything back to normal?
“Like I said when a player doesn’t meet obligations that’s what happens. And it works for any other player.”
How would you define your management? Rather hard, demanding…?
“I’m tough when I have to be and more permissive when I can be too. This is the great ability that I have as a coach and a person.”
Your comments against our colleague on Tuesday evening offended the profession, do you understand that?
“I don’t really know what was said. I’m not in the habit of reading the press to see what’s being said, especially after a defeat.
The major responsible is me so I always try to protect my players. The person responsible for every defeat is the coach, I have thought that for years, since I worked in football. From there I have nothing to say, what I can’t control I don’t take care of.”
Enrique “I think there is no problem with Donnarumma in goals”
Donnarumma is unbeatable on his line but encounters difficulties in aerial exits, does this raise any questions for you?
“We have been talking about Donnarumma for years. It’s true that a player’s past is always present. But personally I think there is no problem with Donnarumma in goal.
I think we should have fixed the defensive problem before the ball got to him. In the end he is the one who pays for it. No one is individually responsible. And if you want to find one, because that’s what you want. Well, it’s me, I accept it.”
Enrique “it’s very ugly to look for someone responsible when the team loses”
Has this aerial exit problem pushed you to work differently with your defenders?
“We work on all the phases of the game that we consider important. We have two goalkeeping coaches who work with them. That doesn’t mean it’ll never happen, but it does mean we’re working on every aspect of the game.
But I repeat, in this case it was a team error. Of course this is something we can improve. But it’s very ugly to look for someone to blame when the team loses. It’s just as ugly as when we win and you’re going to see whoever won. But to score we need everyone.”
Enrique “I am convinced that this team can compete”
Since the start of the season the midfielder has been praised, but against the biggest opponent they have been inferior. Is it a lack of experience or a collective fault?
“No, I’m sorry to say it again, but I don’t see it that way. But after rewatching the match with all the material at our disposal, we could see that the opponent was better on certain points. That we were better on others. But I think if now they played Arsenal at home the result would be different.
But football at this level and the group we inherited will still have situations of this type and I hope we will come out of it more favorably. We are imperfect, we will work but I am convinced that this team can compete because I am convinced that we have the right level and good state of mind.
Are PSG still far from the best European teams?
“No, I think that on the contrary we are very close. I don’t know what you’re saying, but Arteta has been in charge of this team for five years. Pep Guardiola has also been several years, for us it has been a year and three months.
I’m not making excuses, but I’m just saying that we are working and that we already achieved great things last season. We are going to win all the competitions, that’s my goal and that’s why I’m standing up.”
Enrique “I’m sure we will improve, improve our performance.”
What lessons did you learn from the match against Arsenal that will help you for tomorrow?
“The main thing is that they are two completely different competitions. There is very little in common between the two. Defeats in general can be positive because we can see where our friends are and where our enemies are.
And that motivates for the next match. Obviously it hurts you to lose, but I’m sure we will improve, improve our performance.
Enrique “I am very happy with the four players who arrived.”
What do you think of William Pacho’s first weeks at PSG?
“I would like, instead of individualizing on Pacho I would like us to talk about the four players who arrived this summer. Their adaptation and performances are above what we expected. I believe they are aware of the club’s demands and the expectations around them. I am very happy with the four players who arrived.
Enrique “I have no problem making decisions even if they seem difficult”
Will Ousmane be okay with you tomorrow?
“I repeat to you that each player has obligations towards the team. What fulfills these obligations are there, otherwise not. If one of them makes a serious mistake I make decisions.
I have no problem making decisions even if they seem difficult because I always think about my team. I could be wrong, but that’s another topic. But I make my decisions and it’s my responsibility.”
Enrique “It will be a difficult match for us”
What is your view on Nice and its coach?
“For the second question, Nice changed coaches, he is a very well-known coach with a lot of personality. He played on Thursday and it’s true that there was an unfavorable result, but I’m sure that they will want to change things and forget this previous match by playing against us.
And I think we always stimulate our opponents. It will be a difficult match for us and we will see how we will manage.
What aspects do you want to improve after Arsenal?
“All aspects. As I will do after a victory. Do you want me to be concrete? So this week we worked on game phases, we worked on offensive and defensive set-piece phases.
Wednesday rest and Thursday, Friday, we worked on defense, attack, set pieces and getting off the ball. And everything we deem appropriate to improve the level. We would have done exactly the same thing if we had won in London.”
For you, the most important thing is to adapt to the opponent’s game plan or to stay faithful to the one you put in place?
“In general it is the opponents who adapt to us because we have possession of the ball and when you have possession it is you who are in charge and the opponent who adapts.
So depending on how it fits our game, we need to deploy one solution or another. That’s the difficulty of football, in a match there can be several adaptations and we try to adapt to all of them.”
Related News :