After an unusual press conference in the air on Thursday, Luis Enrique spoke to the media again on Saturday before the PSG/Monaco Champions Trophy this Sunday in Qatar (5:30 p.m.). Confident and enthusiastic before this match, the Spaniard did not want to give any indications concerning the identity of his starting goalkeeper, nor to entertain the Salah rumor. Here are his comments in full, translated by us.
You ended the year 2024 rather well compared to slightly more frustrating, contrasting results just before. Is it due to the extra luck that you lacked until then or is it a sign that your team has improved and will continue to improve in January?
“I think the first part of the season was very good and we are approaching the best part of the season like every year at this time. This second part means the opportunity to fight for the title and go further in each competition. In any case, I’m happy with what I see and like any team in any championship, we always have things to improve, that’s obvious. »
What are your good resolutions and ambitions for this new year?
“Our ambitions are the same as for all other seasons, namely to be able to fight for all the titles. This is the objective that we have set ourselves since we arrived at the club. It’s a very difficult goal, obviously, but it’s our motivation and we work towards our goals. »
Paris Saint-Germain is enjoying a successful national trajectory, but encounters many difficulties at European level. Is it possible that in the next match against Manchester City, we will see the elimination of Paris Saint-Germain despite the experience of his coach and the Champions League on his record? [Edition 2014-2015 comme coach du Barça, ndlr] ?
“In the Champions League, in terms of the team’s performance and play, I am very calm. I like what I see and I consider that we are on an upward slope, constantly improving. In terms of results, it is obvious that those of this Champions League have been totally unfair. But it’s football, no one claims it’s a fair sport. In this context, I like my team’s journey, I like what I see and I believe that our mentality is to want more, aspire for more and improve in all areas. »
Which goalkeeper will play tomorrow and what is the main difference between Donnarumma and Safonov?
“I will decide tomorrow [ce dimanche, ndlr] players who will participate. They are all in good spirits. And tomorrow will be the time to decide. There is still today’s training left. I am fully confident, regardless of the players who emerge from this alternation. »
Do you have the feeling, with seven matches to play in 25 days, that [ce match contre Monaco] is the first turn to negotiate well to properly launch this year 2025 which will be very rhythmic between the busy calendar of January and February. Did you focus on this first match?
“There will be possibilities and opportunities for the majority of players”
“At the start of the year when we will have a lot of matches to play, almost every three days, I hope that we can see our potential as a team and see that we are not dependent on one player or ‘an eleven, but that there will be possibilities and opportunities for the majority of players. This is one of the things we have been working on since we arrived at the club and which is essential. To have a successful season, I remain convinced that the more players involved, the better. That’s my goal. »
Is Donnarumma fit to start this somewhat special Cup match that can be called a final or does he need time to recover from such trauma, more mentally than physically?
“No, no, all three goalkeepers are fit to play tomorrow. There is no problem with any of the three. Any of the three could play. »
You were present at the 2022 World Cup. What did you think of Qatar and its infrastructure at the time and still today?
“Coming to Doha, or Qatar, is an indelible memory for me. I have very good memories of the World Cup and all the stadiums. We hadn’t played in this stadium [le “974” à Doha] during the World Cup but these memories are always pleasant. »
Are the rumors regarding an interest in Mohamed Salah true?
“I am not used to talking about players who are not in the PSG squad. This is a club where there are continually rumors about players potentially joining us. We stay a little away from all that. »
Compared to your 4-2 victory against Monaco who stood up to you three weeks ago, what are the things you would like not to see again in your team’s play and what are your views on Monaco?
“I think it was a really good match for the spectators, a match in which we took control from the start as well as the advantage on the scoreboard. Despite this, Monaco was very good at the start of the second half and turned the match around. But hey, when you face opponents of this level, it is normal that the rival can surpass you in certain situations. I think the result reflects our superiority but it’s true that the match was open. Tomorrow will be another match. It’s a final and a final means that once one of the two teams is behind, the result no longer suits them. I hope we will see a good match and that it will please fans of good football. »
Young players began to bring new blood to the Paris Saint-Germain team, especially after the departure of Mbappé. Do you feel that the demands are particularly high from Paris Saint-Germain fans and that everyone expects you to one day win the Champions League title? Was it your choice to call on young people or were it circumstances that forced you to do so?
“I have absolutely no doubt that PSG will have several Champions Leagues in the next ten years”
“I think that the idea and the project of the club obviously remain the same, namely to use and recruit high-level players who want to come to Paris Saint-Germain, and to be able to create a clear playing philosophy, a model where there is no It’s not just about playing good football, but also about winning. But then there is the transfer window, there is reality, there are the players available and those who can be recruited. But I like the club’s policy, this policy which consists of training players and trusting high quality players, whether they come from our training center or other clubs, in order to continue to develop our project. The previous (project) unfortunately did not win the Champions League. We’ll see if he can do it. But I have absolutely no doubt that Paris Saint-Germain, I don’t know if it will be with or without me, will have several Champions Leagues in the next ten years. »
You said that (playing in Doha) was like a home match. Is this an advantage or on the contrary, does it put additional pressure on you with this idea that defeat is forbidden in front of your owner?
“That’s what we feel: the feeling of playing at home. Not only because of the players who were able to participate in the World Cup just like me, but also clearly because of the owners of the club. But I don’t know if that will be an advantage. We’ll see when we get to the stadium tomorrow. What I know is that Qatari fans love good football and we will try with Monaco, who also play very good football, to entertain them. »
You told us before the break that you were going to put in place a suitable program for your squad and that certain players absolutely had to rest. When you returned from the truce, did you feel that it had done them any good? Why did you take the whole group when a few players are clearly about to leave?
“Well because we are coming to Doha, and it is interesting that everyone starts the year and the second part of the season together. It’s a final, it’s always a special match, it’s a title. And that means the more united the team can be, the better. Then, with the schedule coming up, a schedule that we like and that we are looking forward to preparing, it is obvious that with 11 players, it is impossible to keep. I repeat: I think it works in our favor because we are trying to give confidence to more than 11 players and I hope it will pay off in terms of good results. »
Kang-in Lee scored more goals than last season, what is your opinion on his performance and do you see a big difference from last season?
“Lee is one of the players who still has a lot of room for improvement”
“And since Kang-in Lee arrived at PSG, I have seen him make increasing progress. If we rely on his goals, I think he is at 8 this season [6 en réalité, ndlr]. I think these are very good stats for a player who is expected to play both as a striker, as a false 9 and even as a midfielder, as I have used several times already. I like him, I think he’s one of the players who still has a lot of room for improvement, but who has an attitude and quality that are beyond doubt. »
Are there discussions with Liverpool regarding Mohamed Salah coming to PSG?
“I’m not talking about players who are not at the club. »
Paris Saint-Germain are in a tricky situation in the Champions League in terms of ranking [25e et premier non-qualifié pour les play-offs]. Many teams are experiencing the same difficulties in the standings. Do you think the new Champions League system is unfair to certain clubs?
“It’s a totally different competition from what we’re used to. The biggest difference we can see after six matches, and even before that, is the fact that each team has a different draw, or rather a different schedule, sorry. And this always implies a principle of inequality. But that’s how it is. It’s true that there are matches more interesting for the spectator from the first day but we will see if the format ultimately turns out to be better. There will surely be people who are more or less happy depending on the results, but in principle, we were able to see very high-level matches from the start of the competition. »
Adi Hütter, coach of Monaco, has just declared just before “We lost the last match 2-4 against Paris Saint-Germain but now it is a unique match, a different match and we can do it, we can win this trophy.” What do you think?
“It’s clearly a final and Monaco is one of the best teams in our championship. It will obviously be difficult, we will obviously have to be at a good level to be able to beat Monaco and we are motivated, ready and looking forward to playing tomorrow’s match. »
