“I have 30 years in football, I don't know how to explain this. It's bad luck. The result is unfair”. At the microphone of Canal+, Luis Enrique did not change a word of his line of defense in the face of the frustrating performances of his Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. His ultra-domination never materializes in the scores. On Wednesday November 7, a painful defeat was the key, suffered against Atlético de Madrid (2-1) at the end of added time and completely against the flow of play.
In the first two home matches of this C1 campaign, Paris first had to fight to the end to snatch victory against Girona (1-0), then failed to do better than a draw. against PSV Eindhoven (1-1). “In reality, it’s inexplicable what happened to us in these three C1 home matches. It’s inexplicable and unfair”hammered the Spanish technician in a post-match press conference.
His team (currently 25th), which was aiming for the Top 8 and direct qualification for the round of 16, is not even part of the Top 24 and is therefore not a virtual play-off. In three weeks, she travels to Munich to face Bayern (November 26). Manchester City is also on the program for this particularly tough League phase. “In the situation we are in, I cannot guarantee that we will qualify”admitted Luis Enrique, saying he was solely responsible for the situation but not at all ready to admit the slightest tactical error.
“I always try to say the opposite of what the journalists say to soften things. But, clearly, the players are affected. Who wouldn't be?”
Luis Enrique, PSG coachat a press conference
Asked about the choice to persist with a false No. 9 (Marco Asensio against Atlético) at the forefront of this particularly ineffective attack (3 goals in 84 shots), he kicked into touch. “I will do what I consider best so that my team creates more chances than its opponent, he insisted. I am true to my ideas. The day I fail in football, it will be with my ideas, not those of journalists or another coach. I have no doubt that we are on a good path.”
If he allowed PSG, in his first season, to reach the last four of the Champions League, the Asturian's statistical record is not stellar. His team has lost five of its last eight matches in the competition. Above all, the fact of counting only four points after the first four matches of a C1 campaign is a first since the 2004-2005 season for the Parisians. Not since the arrival of Qatari investors has such a start been observed.
“Today is a shit day. Tomorrow, we will get back up, we have four matches left and as long as there are matches, we will fight until the end. We will prepare for them like four finals”Luis Enrique committed. He has three weeks, interspersed with an international break and two Ligue 1 matches, to rectify the situation.
