On Saturday, as part of Matchday 28 of Ligue 1 2024-2025, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) take on Angers (14th) at the Parc des Princes (kick-off 5pm, CET). On the eve of the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique answered a number of questions at a press conference.
Luis Enrique: “These are things that allow us to prepare for other competitions in the best possible way.
It’s possible to be champion tomorrow, but some of your predecessors wanted to finish as quickly as possible. Does that count for you in managing the season?
I’ll repeat what I said recently. I think we’re already the virtual champions. But there are circumstances that mean it won’t end tomorrow. There are records to beat, and these are the things that will enable us to prepare for the other competitions in the best possible way. We want to be as competitive as possible. That will help us keep our level for the French Cup and the Champions League.
What about Beraldo, who is expected to replace Marquinhos against Aston Villa. Should he play or rest tomorrow?
You’ll have to wait and see. I have no intention of sharing my tips and ideas with the opposition. The players are ready, we’re all ready.
Luis Enrique “the objectives continue to improve, break records and prepare for other competitions.”
What are the advantages of being champions so soon? A party tomorrow night if we win the title?
Of course we’re going to celebrate, if we can get it tomorrow. The match against Angers is a great motivation to celebrate with our supporters, even if we’ve already been virtual champions for a few weeks. After that, our goals are to keep improving, break records and prepare for other competitions.
How would you define Ramos’ state of mind? Is he a role model?
Without a doubt. Gonçalo Ramos is a high-performance player, with a great ratio of goals per minutes played. You always want a player to be ready when he plays, and you can’t but underline his level. I’m delighted to have him in the squad.
Luis Enrique “It’s very positive to have him.”
How important is it for Beraldo or a young player to go through a difficult situation in order to grow?
That’s what happens with all players. There can be problems as the game goes on. He’s a very young player, who arrived during the winter last season and adapted quickly. I have absolute confidence in Beraldo. He’s got the qualities, what he transfers, his serenity. It’s very positive to have him.
Why is Beraldo preferred to Hernandez? Hernandez isn’t 100%?
You’re the journalist, in your place, and I’m in mine, as coach. I choose according to the state of the players. It’s all very complex. It’s not a question of trusting one player and not another. The players participate, they get playing time. I want to get the best out of my players.
Luis Enrique “It’s an attractive format with the clubs.”
A word about the Club World Cup trophy and this competition?
First of all, I liked the trophy. You’ll have to go to the gym to carry it, it’s heavy (smile). It’s going to be one of the best competitions in the world. I played in the World Cup and it was incredible. It’s an attractive format with the clubs. We’ll have the honor of being in the United States, so it’ll be a motivating competition for everyone.
Has Doué taken on a different dimension in recent weeks?
I think you’ve been talking a lot about Doué lately, and it’s very different from what you were saying before. You criticized him, not me. I’m not going to change. He’s very intelligent, mature for his age. He knows not to stop at what is said.
Luis Enrique “I’d like him to continue, I started the project with him and I’d like to finish it with him.”
Where would you place Doué in world soccer? Is he at the top?
I can’t make a ranking, I don’t know all the other players in depth. I know my players.
Do you think PSG will be better next season?
I’ve already talked about it, I have nothing to add.
Campos hasn’t extended his contract with PSG? How do you feel about that?
I’d like him to continue. I started the project with him and I’d like to finish it with him.
Luis Enrique “It’s a great evolution of an already very strong player. There’s no other player like him.”
PSG impresses the world, it reflects your philosophy, what have you done in this project? Have you changed personally too?
The projects we’re involved in are always different. You put an idea in place, and the players have to get used to it, but you also have to adapt. I think the way we evolve in this constant quest for improvement is by asking questions and looking for solutions. I don’t know what’s changed. But every project is different.
How have you seen Dembélé’s preparation evolve? Why did he need this time?
I think we’ve talked so much about Ousmane…I remember talking as early as last year about what a marvel Dembélé is, even without the goals. Any soccer fan would pay to see him play. He has the ability to pass, dribble, shoot, with both feet, the pressing he does… He’s a marvel. It’s a great evolution of an already very strong player. There’s no other player like him.
Luis Enrique “It’s going to be two top teams fighting to get to the semi-finals.”
What do you think of Brazilian soccer? Is there a big difference with Europe?
I can’t say too much yet, I’m going to know Botafogo very well for this summer. But it’s obvious, several players in the national team play in Europe. It’s a great footballing country. But I can’t be more precise. The Club World Cup will give us some clues. We have advantages in Europe.
Against Aston Villa, you’ll find Unai Emery and Marco Asensio. Does that give them an edge that could make all the difference?
There’s no advantage or disadvantage. I know that Unai Emery has a great ability to analyze opponents and improve his team. He has a proven track record with several teams. He’s won European trophies. We know what kind of opponent we’re up against.
They’re a more complete team than last year. But they’re not going to win because Unai Emery knows me, or vice versa. They’ll be two top teams fighting to get to the semi-finals.
Records as objectives, including invincibility?
Yes, records didn’t interest me until today. But today, yes, it can be a motivation. Like being invincible. It’s also a good way of preparing for other competitions. Being the only unbeaten club will be interesting.
Luis Enrique “We hope it happens at home and we hope he stays.”
What are your thoughts on Dembélé’s development? What words did you use to turn him into a finisher?
I don’t know, you’d have to ask him. It’s obvious that his position has an influence. But on the right, on the left… Great players can play anywhere. He’s surprised a lot of people, but not us, because he’s got the qualities to do it. It’ll be interesting to see next season too. We hope it happens at home and we hope he stays.
How important is it to offer some good football at the Club World Cup?
We haven’t talked about that with the players, we’re thinking about tomorrow’s match. Our energy is there. But we’ll be representing France, and that’s an added incentive. We want to show that we’re competitive. We’d like to be a benchmark in the world. But we’ve got time to think about that.
Luis Enrique “I’ve been criticized for making rotations, but it’s paid off.”
In your planning, is your team at the right point for the rest to be a bonus? Or is the team still far from its peak?
I’m always optimistic. There’s always room for improvement in many aspects of the game. The players can always improve. We want what we work on in training to show up in matches, otherwise we change. In a team sport, it’s difficult to reach the maximum. When we plan the season, we plan to adapt.
I’ve been criticized for rotating, but it’s paid off.
Luis Enrique “I’d like to see 2-metre players who can play like Vitinha, but I can’t see any.”
Are goals conceded after lost aerial duels an identified problem?
That’s soccer. Goals happen. It’s not a cause for concern. Mistakes can be made and corrected. But in soccer, there are many situations you want to control. We know that our team isn’t sensational when it comes to defending against set-pieces, because the players we’ve chosen haven’t been caught out on that criterion. But I want players who can play at home and away with quality. Size isn’t everything in soccer.
I want an attractive game. There are game situations, inattentiveness, it happens. I’d like to see 2-metre players who can play like Vitinha, but I don’t see any. There was Zidane, but he’s retired.
