It was a Luis Enrique frankly touched by the improbable defeat of his team at home against Atlético Madrid who presented himself at a press conference. The PSG coach alternated between despondency, resilience, faith in his players and in the future but also perplexity in the face of these unsuccessful matches. Here are his full remarks, translated by us.
PSG is 25th in the standings in this league phase of the Champions League with four points on the clock after four matches. With the upcoming schedule being very difficult, is qualification in danger?
“Without a doubt. »
How do you explain this recurring lack of effectiveness in achieving the goal?
“The word that would best suit would be inexplicable, even unfair”
“I have to watch the match again to analyze things in depth. But it's really inexplicable what happened to us during these three Champions League matches at home. The word that would be most appropriate would be inexplicable, even unfair. »
Are you considering a change in philosophy regarding the number 9 position? Or do you retain your trust in Marco Asensio or Kang-in Lee?
“I feel very bad, like my players”
“Truth be told, the person responsible for creating our 50 opportunities is the team. The person responsible for our lack of efficiency is the coach. If we don't get results, I'm the one to blame, without a doubt. What am I going to do? Doing what I consider best so that my team continues to create chances, is better than the opposition and defends at a high level. It's difficult to explain a series like these three Champions League matches with only four points. I feel very bad, like my players, but tomorrow we will have time to analyze the match and debrief everything. There are four difficult matches left to play. We will try until the last minute of the last match. It's almost funny to see how we concede certain goals. We create 20 clear chances to score, and the opponent sneezes and scores. It's the same dynamic every time. We must get up and try again. »
Is the lack of a top striker the source of your efficiency problems?
“I have no doubt that we are on the right path”
“Bring it to me if you have it.” Where did I get this attacker from? It's the Champions League. I am true to my ideas. The day I completely fail in Football, I will do it with my ideas, not those of a journalist, another coach, or anyone else. I am always true to my ideas. I have no doubt that we are on the right path, despite this incredible and unprecedented series. Football does not reward chances, but goals. We are aware of this and must do better, me first and foremost. »
Your players often made the wrong decisions and seemed wait-and-see and very predictable. Is this the explanation for the evening's defeat?
“The faith in my players remains unshakeable”
“The goal is a joke in bad taste. Our opponent never approached our area. We are in a dynamic that is hurting us very much. But I can only speak wonderfully of my players, of all of them. The goal hurt us a lot. Especially since these are often goals that arrive when the opponent has done nothing before. It's football. You have to accept it. Faith in my players remains unshakeable. But this second goal was waiting hidden in a corner and it puts us in a very complicated situation. I repeat: there are four Champions League matches left and we have to believe in it until the end. What action needs to be taken will be taken if they do so.
I don't work in the football world with fear. I repeat that I maintain unwavering faith in my players. This situation affects us very much. We want to score goals. I also think of our supporters who sing until the last minute at the Parc des Princes, despite the series we are in. The figures are there, they reflect our situation, so I'm not sure to say that we will qualify. »
Randal Kolo Muani was revived even though we had not seen him in the Champions League since the match against PSV (1-1) and the match against Nice in Ligue 1. Why?
“Due to the situation of the match. Atlético was even more closed in on itself than at the start of the match. They spent the match with a line of five defenders. I wanted a more offensive profile but we were unable to achieve it. I liked his attitude and the way he entered the pitch. Given our situation, it's not one player who will change things alone. It is the team and its coach who will change things. »
Does the psychological aspect come into play for players faced with these repeated failures?
” Of course. It's the same when you concede an unfair goal. Very clearly. You always see negative things and I try to limit this impact on them as much as possible by protecting them. The players are affected, very affected. All. But also the supporters, their loved ones or even… the journalists who would be in favor of PSG. Perhaps there is one in 1000 of you. I would continue to defend my club, my players. They are obviously affected. It's impossible not to be. »
What should a coach with this much experience say to his players after such a match?
“Four finals are coming”
“I never speak with my players on match night. It's interesting, in fact, I tell young coaches: I don't talk to my players at the end of a match, because that won't help anything at all. Nothing will work. We must lower the level of negative energy. Everyone can draw whatever conclusions they want. But every person who saw the match will say that this result is not fair. It is even totally unfair, yes. Football is unfair, life too. Today was a shit day. Tomorrow we will think about things we can improve. There are of course. Four finals are coming. They will have to be approached in this way, without a doubt. »
What chances does PSG have of not qualifying?
“If the dynamic is what we see, I don’t know. This competition started in a strange way, with an abnormal draw for a hat 1 team. From there, we were unable to present strong enough arguments. We should have won easily in our three home games. But we are weighed down by a very difficult dynamic. »
How do you imagine the PSG Champions League, before this contrary dynamic?
” I don't know. I don't plan things much. Life can change in just a few seconds. I never make a plan on where to finish. We still have four finals to go. Everything can stop after the eighth in just two matches. Everything can change for the better too. This is the situation. Nothing tragic, however. »
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