On Wednesday, as part of matchday 7 of the Champions League 2024-2025 league phase, Paris Saint-Germain (25th) take on Manchester City (22nd) at the Parc des Princes (kick-off 9pm, broadcast on Canal+). On the eve of the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique answered a number of questions at a press conference.
Luis Enrique “We’ll see a great game of soccer, that’s the objective for both sides.”
What’s your relationship with Guardiola? What brings you closer together in the game and what distances you the most?
Tomorrow’s a very special match, not to mention the importance for both teams. I’m meeting up with a friend who I’ve worked with as a player and coach. It’s a great joy to be reunited with him.
What brings us closer together is our overall idea of the game, of trying to be better with the ball, of constantly pressing. There are nuances, each coach develops his game according to the players. But we have a very similar idea. We’re going to see a great game of soccer, and that’s the objective for both sides.
Luis Enrique “The best prepared, the best adapted, will be able to best develop his idea.”
Is there a temptation to look for a tactical coup, to break with habits, to surprise him?
It’s obvious that it’s an important match, and everyone has to be ready, the coach and the team. Manchester City do a lot of things tactically, there are changes of places. But so are we. We offer different options.
Both teams are in a complicated situation, with few points. Each team will want to deploy its best weapons. The best prepared, the best adapted, will be able to best develop their idea.
Who do you think represents the best model of play between Luis Enrique and Guardiola?
I think Barça’s 4-3-3 has been brought to a near-perfect level with Guardiola. He’s a benchmark in soccer. I’m very lucky to be his friend. He has successfully led a new way of playing, particularly in England. And many have followed. He’s all about values, I’m all about the ball. It’s something that’s easy to understand in Spanish.
Luis Enrique “He’s been innovating throughout his career, he’s not afraid to explore different possibilities.”
Dembélé has said that this is one of the most important matches since his arrival at PSG?
All opinions are equal. I hope that the most important match of the season won’t be this one, but to play for a title later on. But that’s special, of course. I don’t think anyone could have predicted that PSG and City would be here at this moment. Today, nobody knows how many points we need to qualify. Maybe after today.
Do you think Guardiola will innovate tomorrow?
He’s been innovating his whole career, he’s not afraid to explore different possibilities. It’s a match to grow up in, adapting to what Guardiola proposes as the game goes on. We have a young team, but with great qualities. It’s a very stimulating situation.
Luis Enrique “We have an ambitious mindset. I like that pressure.”
Does this pre-match rotation mean there’s pressure tomorrow?
Why do you ask? No. I may or may not rest players depending on their physical condition or if they’re in pain. But no particular pressure. We’re all professionals when it comes to playing games like this, and we want to live up to the expectations of our fans. They see that our team never gives up, that it can turn things around. That’s very positive. We could have been more effective at times, but that happens. We’re in an ambitious frame of mind. I like that pressure.
Could the key be defensive leadership?
If anything defines us with Pep, it’s that we like to attack. That’s our game plan. Then we’ll see what kind of match we’ll have, with our attitude. We hope to be better and we know it’s going to be difficult. I think we’ll see a very strong, very powerful version of PSG. I’m looking forward to it.
The rivalry between City and PSG is a modern one, off the pitch too. Did you sense anything particular from the directors?
No.
Luis Enrique “We have an ambitious mindset. I like that pressure.”
Does this pre-match rotation mean there’s pressure tomorrow?
Why do you ask? No. I may or may not rest players depending on their physical condition or if they’re in pain. But no particular pressure. We’re all professionals when it comes to playing games like this, and we want to live up to the expectations of our fans. They see that our team never gives up, that it can turn things around. That’s very positive. We could have been more effective at times, but that happens. We’re in an ambitious frame of mind. I like that pressure.
Could the key be defensive leadership?
If anything defines us with Pep, it’s that we like to attack. That’s our game plan. Then we’ll see what kind of match we’ll have, with our attitude. We hope to be better and we know it’s going to be difficult. I think we’ll see a very strong, very powerful version of PSG. I’m looking forward to it.
The rivalry between City and PSG is a modern one, off the pitch too. Did you sense anything particular from the directors?
No.
Luis Enrique “There are a lot of points to resolve tomorrow over my coffee.”
Do you have any certainties for your team tomorrow? Is there a typical team emerging?
I can’t say. Some players are coming back, so you recover more quickly for a match like this. But it’s obvious that we won’t be able to field every player. We’ll have to manage the situation and decide on the best eleven for this match. And then there are the following matches. There are a lot of points to resolve tomorrow over a cup of coffee.
PSG lost in their clashes with Arsenal and Bayern, are the players ready to take things to the next level?
PSG should have won both games against PSV and Atlético, that’s the reality on the pitch. But soccer is fickle and we weren’t effective enough. With these extra points, we’d be in a better position. Last year too, we had to fight right to the end. We had very difficult draws, that’s just the way it is.
You have to be capable of winning, and what I see in my team gives me optimism and confidence. I can’t wait for the match.
Will we need some madness in this match?
What kind of madness? That’s the only match I’m interested in tomorrow, I don’t know what the others are. There are some great teams and all the ingredients for a great soccer match.
Luis Enrique “we have the opportunity to give great joy to the fans.”
Do Dembélé’s and Barcola’s recent statistics give hope for tomorrow?
I sincerely believe that if you compare PSG last year and this season, we had one player who scored a lot of goals and we said the solution would be with many players scoring.
It has to come from the team, no matter who scores. We need to score more than last year and concede less. What’s important is to resolve situations in the best possible way, because we always have to be looking to progress and gain confidence.
What impact will the fans have? Do you have an appeal to make to them?
I’d like them to carry on as usual. It’s great to see them, even if we’re behind, away or at home. It stimulates us and prepares us for the game. Tomorrow, we’ve got the chance to give the fans great joy – that’s the most important thing – and to pick up some points.
What can Kvaratskhelia bring to the table?
We all know him, he’s a player who’s proved his worth, and he’s a player who’s perfectly adaptable to our game. He’s very versatile, a player who can adapt to our system. He’s also great at defending. We have to do everything with 11 men.
