Tomorrow evening (9 p.m. Canal Plus Foot), the
PSG moves on the lawn of theEmirates Stadium to challenge
Arsenal on behalf of the second day of the league stage of the Champions League. On the eve of this meeting, Luis Enrique attended a press conference immediately after
Ashraf Hakimi. The Parisian coach spoke of tomorrow’s meeting, the sidelining ofOusmane Dembélé,
Mikel Arteta… Selected extracts.
Mikel Arteta
« We were teammates for a season
Barcelonaeven though he was young at the time. I have good memories of him as a partner. He had a great career as a player, he had a very successful end to his career. We haven’t played against each other yet since we’ve both been coaching. Even if it’s only five minutes before the match, I would love to speak with him and it’s a pleasure to be able to greet him on Tuesday. He is one of the best trainers on the market today, he has allowed Arsenal to once again become a club that wins titles. He is a great coach and a great person. »
The reasons for Dembélé’s absence
« I’m going to respond and say that if someone doesn’t meet their obligations to the team and isn’t ready. I consider that this week is important, that this match is important, and I want my players to be in the best possible condition. I put him aside and I want the best for my team. »
The support of his management on his choice to dismiss Dembélé
« Do you really think it’s easy to create a team with the press of a button? No, there are difficult circumstances, difficult decisions. I am 100% committed to my decisions, I am 100% sure of my decisions. My decisions are not irreversible. I signed for this club to make a team with an identity that plays football. Was I hired to win titles and win the Champions League ? Certainly not. I was hired to do the best I could. I have the support of the management, the sports director, the president. I’m here to build a team and do it with Ousmane Dembélé. »
How Ousmane Dembélé took the news
« I have nothing to add to what I said previously. You already have something to work on, if you want. I’m honest, but I don’t want to make this case a soap opera. There is no argument between the two of us, it is completely false. There is a problem with the player’s commitment to the team, but not a problem between the player and the coach. »
See also: LdC – Ousmane Dembélé will not travel to face Arsenal
Arsenal
« I think it’s one of the best teams inEurope Currently. With the ball, they are a team very close to the top European level, and without the ball, they are very good, I would even say that they are one of the best teams in the world without the ball. It’s a team with a real identity. We have similar styles of play, but also different ones. »
His collective
« I think that Mikel Arteta is on the benchArsenal for five years and renewed his contract for two years. He must make difficult choices to build a squad. I try to talk to my players to connect with them. I have no doubts about the seasons I have had. Sometimes I have difficult decisions to make, but we are on the right path to creating a team. We must play with the same intensity asArsenal. »
Dependence on Barcola and Dembélé
« Barcola, Lee, Kolo Muani Asensio, Désiré Douéthere is plenty to score goals and whoever the player is, the dynamic is the same. I really have faith in my team. I try to transmit the same identity to my players, regardless of the player.. »
