On Sunday, as part of Matchday 7 of Ligue 1 2024-2025, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) take on Nice (9th) at the Allianz Riviera (kick-off 8:45pm, broadcast on DAZN). On the eve of the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique answered a number of questions at a press conference.
Enrique “I always try to protect my players.”
Has Ousmane Dembélé returned to training and is everything back to normal?
“As I said, when a player doesn’t meet his obligations, that’s what happens. And it works for any other player.”
How would you define your management style? Rather tough, demanding…?
“I’m tough when I have to be, and more permissive when I can be too. That’s the great ability I have as a coach and as a person.”
Your comments to our colleague on Tuesday evening offended the profession. Do you understand this?
“I’m not sure what was said. I’m not in the habit of reading the press to see what’s being said, especially after a defeat. The main person responsible is me, so I always try to protect my players.
I’ve been thinking that for years, ever since I started working in soccer. What I can’t control, I don’t worry about.”
Enrique: “I don’t think there’s any problem with Donnarumma in goal”.
Donnarumma is unbeatable on his own line, but is having trouble with his aerial exits. Does this raise any questions for you?
“We’ve been talking about Donnarumma for years. It’s true that a player’s past is always present. But personally I don’t think there’s any problem with Donnarumma in goal.
I think we should have sorted out the defensive problem before the ball got to him. In the end, he’s the one who pays for it. Nobody is individually responsible. And if you want to find one, because that’s what you want. Well, that’s me, I accept it.”
Enrique: “It’s ugly to look for someone to blame when the team loses”.
Has this problem with the aerial exit prompted you to work differently with your defenders?
“We work on all the phases of play that we consider important. We have two goalkeeping coaches who work with them. That doesn’t mean it’ll never happen, but it does mean we’re working on all aspects of the game.
But I repeat, in this case it was a team error. Of course it’s something we can improve. But it’s very ugly to look for someone to blame when the team loses. It’s just as bad as when we win and you’re going to see who won. But to score we need everyone.”
Enrique “I’m convinced this team can compete”
Since the start of the season the midfield has been praised, but against the biggest opponent they’ve been below par. Is it a lack of experience or a collective fault?
“No, I’m sorry to say it again, but I don’t see it that way. But after reviewing the match with all the equipment at our disposal, we were able to see that the opponent was better on certain points. That we were better in others. But I think if we played Arsenal at home now, the result would be different.
But soccer at this level and the group we’ve inherited, we’ll still have situations like this, and I hope we’ll come out of them more favorably. We’re imperfect, we’ll work on it, but I’m convinced that this team can compete because I’m convinced that we have the right level and the right frame of mind.”
Is PSG still a long way from Europe’s top teams?
“No, on the contrary, I think we’re very close. I don’t know what you’re saying, but Arteta has been at the head of this team for five years. Pep Guardiola has also been here for several years, and we’ve been here for a year and three months.
I’m not making excuses, I’m just saying that we’re working hard and we already achieved a lot last season. We’re going to win all the competitions, that’s my objective and that’s why I’m getting up.”
Enrique “I’m sure we’ll improve, improve our performances.”
What lessons did you learn from the match against Arsenal that will serve you well tomorrow?
“The main thing is that these are two totally different competitions. There’s very little in common between the two. Defeats in general can be positive because you can see where your friends are and where your enemies are. And that motivates you for the next match. Obviously it hurts to lose, but I’m sure we’ll get better, improve our performance.”
Enrique “I’m very happy with the four players who have arrived.”
What do you think of William Pacho’s first few weeks at PSG?
“I’d like, instead of individualizing about Pacho I’d like us to talk about the four players who arrived this summer. They’ve adapted and performed beyond our expectations. I think they’re aware of the club’s demands and the expectations that surround them. I’m very happy with the four players who have arrived.”
Enrique “I have no problem making decisions, even if they seem difficult”.
Will Ousmane be with you tomorrow?
“I repeat that every player has obligations to the team. Those who fulfill these obligations are there, otherwise not. If one of them makes a serious mistake, I take decisions.
I have no problem making decisions, even if they seem difficult, because I’m always thinking about my team. I could be wrong, but that’s another matter. But I make my decisions and it’s my responsibility.”
Enrique: “It’ll be a tough match for us”.
What are your thoughts on Nice and its coach?
“For the second question Nice have changed coach, he’s a very well-known coach with a lot of personality. He played on Thursday and it’s true that there was an unfavourable result, but I’m sure that they’ll want to change things and forget that previous match by playing against us. And I think we always stimulate our opponents. It’s going to be a tough game for us and we’ll see how we manage.”
What aspects do you want to improve after Arsenal?
“All aspects. Like I will after a win. You want me to be concrete? So this week we’ve been working on phases of play, we’ve been working on offensive and defensive set-piece phases. Wednesday off and Thursday, Friday, we worked on defense, attack, set-pieces and getting the ball out. And anything else we felt we needed to improve our level. We would have done exactly the same if we’d won in London.”
For you, is it more important to adapt to the opponent’s game plan or to stay true to the one you’re implementing?
“Generally speaking, it’s the opponents who adapt to us because we have possession of the ball, and when you have possession it’s you who’s in charge and the opponent who adapts.
So depending on how they adapt to our game, we have to deploy one solution or another. That’s the difficulty of soccer, in a match there can be several adaptations and we try to adapt to all of them.”
