Paris Saint-Germain beat Lens 1-0 (video summary PSG/Lens) this Saturday at the Parc des Princes as part of Matchday 10 of Ligue 1 2024-2025. After the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique (54) spoke at a press conference. The Spaniard spoke about the team’s performance, and in particular their lack of goals.
Enrique “We managed to get a lot of chances”.
Does the lack of efficiency worry you ?
“What I’ll take away from this match is that it was a very complete game against an aggressive opponent who tried a lot of things and made things difficult for us. We managed to get a lot of chances, but we should have scored more goals. It took a lot of fighting but it’s three points for us.”
Enrique: “I like to see the players ready”.
Why did you play Matvey Safonov today ?
“Because I knew we’d have a lot of trouble with Lens’ high pressing. The only free player is the goalkeeper, and I want all the players to be ready to play. And for Safonov, as for Donnarumma, I want everyone to be ready to come on. I like to see players ready and I think Safonov today helped us bring a certain superiority, it wasn’t easy for him but I’m very happy with his game.”
What did you think of Fabián Ruiz’s performance ?
“I consider the five midfielders I have at my disposal to be of a very high standard. Fabian Ruiz is a recognized international player who has the ability to play and do things that fans and journalists may not see. I think that today, like everyone else, he had a difficult match, but tonight I’m satisfied with the performance of all my midfielders.”
Enrique “I think he’s perfect for the idea of the game we have”.
In Spain, we were surprised to see your deputy leave. Do you have any explanation for this ?
“Nothing in particular, everyone’s paths can change. There’s nothing personal. These are decisions I take in managing my group and my team. I’d like to thank him for the four years we’ve spent together and wish him all the best.”
What lessons can you draw from the Marquinhos/Pacho hinge ?
“I think we’ve found a very high-level central defender in Pacho. He’s very young. But I think he’s perfect for the way we play. This idea of high pressure, this idea of always having a lot of space at our backs. He’s a very powerful player, very strong in duels. He often finds space with the ball. He’s adapted very quickly, even quicker than we expected.”
Enrique “Safonov made no mistakes”.
Safonov missed 12 passes tonight, what do you think of his performance ?
“Superiority is generated when an opponent creates a lot of pressure. The opponent has to press the goalkeeper to increase that pressure. But every time a player goes on the keeper it leaves us a free player on the pitch. Each time, it ended in a goal-scoring opportunity for us. Safonov made no mistakes. He’s a very complete player and in these difficult situations we played a very good match.”
Do you trust Safonov’s footwork more than Donnarumma’s ?
«No.»
Enrique “comments, ideas, criticisms said at the start of the season don’t come true.”
Randal Kolo Muani hasn’t played a minute since the Nice match. Are you counting on him for the second half of the season ?
“I’m counting on all my players. That’s my idea as a coach. I have twenty players and I count on every one of them. I then decide based on what I see, but I count on every one of them.”
Do you think your first 10 days are perfect?
“I don’t read the press much, but there was a rumor that we weren’t the strongest team. But all these expectations aren’t coming true. We have to carry on as we have since the start of the season, stay focused. We’re 6 points clear at the top of the table, and we need to keep up our determination to remain at the highest level. But I think the comments, the ideas, the criticisms said at the start of the season aren’t coming true.”
