On the eve of the opening match of the 6th day of
Ligue 1 between the PSG and the
Rennes Stadiumthe Parisian coach, Luis Enriqueanswered questions from journalists at the pre-match press conference. The opportunity for the Spanish coach to discuss the weekend’s opponent and the week ahead.
What Luis Enrique appreciates about his team since the start of the season (PSG TV)
“Everything is going well from last season with an evolution. The game is getting closer and closer to what I want to put in place. I am very happy and satisfied.”
The sequence of matches (PSG TV)
“When you play all three, you have to have a total vision between the players and their playing time. But I am only focusing on the Rennes match tomorrow.”
About Stade Rennais (PSG TV)
“Last year, Rennes caused us problems even in the Coupe de France. They don’t leave any space. Against us, opponents always change little things.”
A less flamboyant PSG since the return from the last break?
“Less flamboyant? I thought it was more brilliant and I found you very positive. I was a little surprised. That’s life, that’s football.”
Luis Enrique does not feel any drop in form among his players
“I feel things differently. Throughout a season there is an evolution, there are good and bad moments, it is part of the logical process of the team’s growth. I find the opposite situation, the team solves the problems that the opponents cause us.”
The match against Arsenal to come
“At no time against Rennes will I think about the Arsenal match. We have to win the match against Rennes, everything else is in the future and doesn’t interest me.”
Luis Enrique on Joao Neves
“What I expect from him is the same as I expect from all the players in midfield, he is perfectly adaptable to my idea of play; he has a vital characteristic for us of not losing the ball. There is the vision of the game, his physical power, an intelligence, his relationship with his teammates. He adapts very quickly. He and the other players who have arrived are all in a good connection in the rest of the team.”
The phrase in the Movistar documentary about Messi, Neymar and Mbappé’s PSG
“I don’t remember anything. I’m going to use this press conference to give my opinion that any sentence taken out of context in a documentary, I will not comment on them. What I do in a doc is what I do in a match preparation session. All the sentences I say to my team are part of my job as a coach, I love it. I will not comment on it because these are things that are taken out of context.”
In the same documentary, his sentence about his salary reduction in order to speak more to the press if possible
“I’m having a good time with you. I’ve never cut short a press conference, I like to talk, I say what I have to say. It was a spontaneous thought if you tell me that I sign a paper and that I don’t speak anymore and that you take away 50% of my salary, I sign. When you sign a contract with the club, you are obliged to speak. If I can avoid it I will avoid it, especially the post-match interviews.”
Talking tactics in French?
“No, my assistants are perfectly bilingual. When I speak tactically to my players, I do it in Spanish. I would like to speak in French but I will do it with you when I really have some time.”
Difficulties with low blocks
“Rennes are used to high pressing but I don’t think they will do it tomorrow because they are a team that adapts. My job is to face it and find solutions. It is very difficult to fight a low block.”
Less pressure for his second season on the PSG bench?
“There is internal pressure, from the staff. I know the standards and objectives of the club. We want to make history and for that, we have to win everything we can, the most important competition. The pressure is typical of a big club and that’s how it has to be.”
Luis Enrique on Stade Rennais
“They’re a team that plays at the top of the table, they caused us a lot of problems last season. They take points against us, they’re going to vary their behavior throughout the game. They did that last season. There’s no easy game, there will be problems but I’m an optimistic person about these types of games. We’re playing at the Parc and that motivates us.”
Involve as many players as possible in his squad
“With eleven players, I could have very clear objectives but what interests me is the broader context and for that, I need 23 players to help the team and for them to show me that they want to play.”
Overloaded calendars
“Of course it’s the players who have to speak. The calendar is very busy, especially theirs (Manchester City’s), ours is less so since we have two fewer teams in the championship. A less busy calendar benefits everyone. Once every four years, there is this new extremely exciting competition, everyone wants to go to the Club World Cup. It could be reduced for the health of the players. I believe in reducing the calendar but our panorama is different from English and Spanish football. I share the problem but in my situation, I have no right to complain.”
Supporters Paris
