Paris Saint-Germain beat Manchester City 4-2 (video summary PSG/Manchester City) this Wednesday at the Parc des Princes as part of matchday 7 of the Champions League 2024-2025 league phase. After the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique spoke at a press conference. The Spaniard spoke of the success and his team’s progress.
Enrique “Both teams had the mentality to attack, to press”.
How would you describe this victory?
“I can’t imagine what the press conference would have been like if the score had remained 0-2. But first I’d like to salute the performance of this Manchester City team. Both teams had the mentality to attack, to press. It was a very intense match. And I wouldn’t want to stop recognizing that we have the best supporters in the world.
They never stop singing whether we’re winning or losing, whether it’s away or at home, they’re always behind their team. It’s a pleasure to represent this club. I think the comeback we pulled off in the second half matches the mentality of our fans, who are there right to the end, and never stop believing that it’s possible.”
Enrique: “We proved that these players are capable of competing”.
How do you explain the fact that the team didn’t flinch at 0-2?
“I think the same thing happened to Lens, and to Monaco to a lesser extent. I think my team has a lot going for it, and I’ve been saying that for a long time.
We have a lot of confidence, a lot of faith right to the end, and we can see that very clearly in every game. We’ve shown that in several games and especially tonight. I think it can strengthen the players because we have a very young team. But we proved that these players are capable of competing, that they never give up.”
Enrique “When we were 0-2 down we knew anything could happen.”
We’ve often talked about bad luck, and again tonight we thought it wouldn’t happen, that it was a curse, did you think this to yourself at any point in the match?
“How many coaches would like to be in my shoes? A curse? No. Most of the teams I’ve coached have scored a lot of goals. We just concentrate on attacking and defending.
When we were 0-2 down, we knew that anything could happen. Sometimes soccer is beautiful, sometimes cruel. The team’s faith is unbreakable. Our objectives haven’t changed. In this Champions League we should have five more points. Now we have our final match in Stuttgart to secure our qualification.”
Enrique: “All top-level coaches are criticized”.
Is this victory also for you, with the choice not to field a true number 9?
“The truth is, I don’t really care. I don’t care who likes my choices or who doesn’t, I just do my job as best I can. I try to position my players according to what I think is best for the team. I know what kind of world I’m living in. All top-level coaches are criticized. And that’s not going to change my way of thinking.”
Enrique: “We’re a team that a lot of opposing coaches have praised”.
Do you feel that this was PSG’s best match since you’ve been here?
“No. I think that in terms of intensity, the game against Bayern Munich that we lost held a lot more intensity. We were one player down for a long period right up to the end. We lost, so that changes the perception, obviously.
But I think we’re a team that a lot of opposing coaches have praised. We run a lot, we press, even when we don’t have the ball we know exactly what to do. And I’m happy that we were able to achieve that tonight against one of the best teams with the best coach in the world. In an incredible atmosphere.”
Enrique “The competitive pace of a team like PSG is very difficult”.
A word about Gonçalo Ramos and his efficiency?
“I have a very high opinion of Ramos, as I do of all the players in my team. He’s a great professional. He can be present at any moment of a match. What I try to instil in my players is that no one is guaranteed to start a match. And the most important thing is for everyone to be at their best once on the pitch.
Now we have more and more players, as the arrival of Kvaratskhelia proves. There were also some very good players on the bench tonight. But it’s a very good sign that the more good players we have on the bench, the better the team is, because none of them can slacken off. The competitive rhythm of a team like PSG is very difficult and every player has to understand that.”
Enrique: “I think we’re a very complete team”.
Many people are discovering PSG tonight, but isn’t it the same as two months ago, with the added realism?
“Yes, but if you analyze our realism on the other games it was 2% and that didn’t make sense. We’re the team that generates the most chances and people say the French League is easy, but if you look at the other French teams they all have a chance of qualifying.
I think we’re a very complete team. In six games in a short competition like the Champions League, if you miss those goal-scoring chances, of course you’re going to find yourself in trouble and lose games. But we never lost faith. We’ve always remained a team. We carried on tonight.”
Enrique “A goal that opened up a whole new scenario”.
What was striking was the calm and serenity, what were your words during the chat?
“After such pace in the first half I knew we could keep that intensity up in the second half and that we were motivated to do more. And you can’t pass up a chance against a team like Manchester City.
We started the second half very well, but in the end they managed to score two goals. It was a hard blow to take. But the team kept believing and with the support of the fans we were able to score that first goal. A goal that opened up a whole new scenario and from then on we were superior to City.”
Enrique “we work to live this kind of moment.”
You said yesterday that the team that got the better of you would win the game. With 66% possession you smothered City, wasn’t that the game plan from the start?
“Of course. Denying the best team in the world the ball was our first objective. When you play a team with Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Kovacic and all those players, it’s very difficult. But it was our aim to hold the ball and maintain constant defensive pressure.”
Can you tell us about that celebration and moment at the final whistle?
“It was a huge relief. The Champions League has been tough since the first game, and we’ve been working to experience moments like that.”