Paris Saint-Germain beat Monaco 4-1 (PSG/Monaco video highlights) this Friday at the Parc des Princes on Matchday 21 of Ligue 1 2024-2025. After the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique spoke at a press conference. The Spaniard spoke of the success and his team’s progress.
Enrique: “It was difficult to put them under pressure”.
Was it the most accomplished match of the season?
“No, no, I don’t think so. For example, I didn’t like the last fifteen minutes. We can’t let Monaco have possession of the ball and then have such difficult moments. I think the first half was very tight.
It was difficult to put them under pressure. They’ve got a lot of quality players, who made it difficult for us. I think we were clinical and decisive in the second half. Our movements were very good and I think we deserved the final victory. But it was very difficult and it always is against Monaco.”
Enrique: “I’ve always had confidence in my staff”.
Your contract extension is now official, any words on the subject?
“The reaction can only be positive. When we go back a year and a half, the club has always been available to us from day one, showing us an enormous amount of trust. Whether it’s the club, the sporting management, there’s always been confidence in me and my staff, so obviously we want to stay here and continue to progress. We want to make history here, and that’s our goal with myself and my staff.”
Enrique: “We want versatile players.
Kvaratskhelia has played a third of his minutes on the left, a third on the right and the other third in the middle, do you have a preference?
“We know Kvaratskhelia very well. He’s recognizable to all great soccer fans, but he’s always in a phase where we have to watch him. He’s like Bradley Barcola, he can play in midfield, but he’s also very good on the right. It’s the same with Ousmane Dembélé.
As a number 9, you can see what he’s doing now. Depending on the match, its evolution and the form of the players, we want to see how they play. It’s the same with Dembélé, Kang In-Lee and all the other forwards. That’s what we want. We want versatile players.
That means they can play in any position. Kvaratskhelia can play all three positions, and he finished his chances today with the qualities of a pure number 9. He can finish very well and also delivered an assist, which is very good for us.”
Hakimi didn’t play today, was it due to rest or a physical problem?
“Yesterday he couldn’t train because he wasn’t in the best condition. As I’ve already said, he’s a vital player for us. He’s the key to our system and obviously I don’t want to take any risks with him. I’d rather lose a league match in which we’re well ahead than take the risk of starting him.”
Enrique “it’s very nice to receive this kind of analysis and compliments.”
Monaco’s coach said he was facing the best version of PSG, do you share that sentiment too?
“I think Adi’s opinion is probably more authentic than mine, because I’m the coach. When a rival faces us, especially a Champions League team with such a great coach and players, it’s very nice to receive this kind of analysis and compliments.”
Enrique “We are now mature as a team”.
Your team has been impressive in recent games, but what danger are you currently watching out for?
“We’ve had all kinds of experience in the Champions League. That was also the case last year with the group of death, which gave us enormous difficulties. We had to work right to the end to qualify.
It was a little different this year, but in those difficult moments it’s always the fans who keep believing. We’re mature as a team now. We’re still very young, but I think we’re the perfect reflection of our fans. We always try to play beautiful soccer, and leave nothing to chance whether at home or away.”
Enrique “We’ve changed a lot of positional players.”
The team was more creative in the second half, what did you ask them to change?
“We had to adapt the positioning of the players. Playing soccer at this level is difficult. Our opponents play at a very high level and there’s very little space. We were able to free ourselves up and play with more freedom. We changed a lot of players’ positions.”
