On Wednesday, aspart of Matchday 4 of the 2024-2025 Champions League phase, Paris Saint-Germain (19th) take on Atlético de Madrid (27th) at the Parc des Princes (kick-off 9pm, broadcast on Canal+ in France). On the eve of the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique answered a number of questions at a press conference.
Luis Enrique “I know it’s going to be difficult, like all Champions League matches”
What’s the prevailing feeling before this match?
“The feeling is the same as before the other Champions League games, optimism, confidence before facing this opponent. And a very clear objective: to take all three points.”
Would you prefer to face a coach who has totally differentideas of play to your own?
“I don’t have a preference, tomorrow I’ll be playing against Diego Simeone again. I’ve already played against him several times as a player, but also as a coach. He’s obviously a very good coach. I admire it when a coach stays with a club for so many years. This longevity is very difficult, because it’s very hard to convince your players over the long term.
When you stay for so many years, you’re obviously a top coach. I know it’s going to be tough, like all Champions League matches. Against an opponent who knows how to play collectively and who has some very great individual players.”
Luis Enrique “I’m very satisfied with my team’s performance”
This Atlético Madrid team can have a different attitude in important matches, is this a key for PSG?
“If you look at Atlético individually they’re all internationals, so they’re players used to the very highest level. Obviously, they’ll be very competitive. In that sense, we’re halfway through 4 games out of 8. We don’t know what’s going to happen, I know that after us their schedule is much more favorable. But that’s soccer. We’re trying to concentrate on tomorrow’s game and do better than our opponents.
In the league, PSG have taken the lead. Would you agree that your team has two faces, in Ligue 1 and in the Champions League?
“No, I think we have the same face, the same collective idea. Now, these are two different competitions, the Champions League at a higher level, which is played by the best teams in each country. But if I’m referring to the phases of the game that I can control, I’m very satisfied with my team’s performances, both in attack and defense.
And in terms of statistics, we’re one of the best teams in this Champions League. And I’ll be signing to repeat the statistics we had against PSV, with a different result, because the one we got wasn’t deserved.”
Luis Enrique: “Any team that loses tomorrow and wins its other four games will qualify”.
Do you have enough experience today to pick up those crucial three points?
“Any team that loses tomorrow and wins its other four games will qualify without any problem. So it’s not decisive. Important for us, yes. But not decisive.”
What are your thoughts on your Marquinhos/Pacho hinge?
“I understand that you tend to individualize things, that’s your job, but mine is to generalize. Every player brings something to the team. My objective is always collective, to understand how we can improve.
I have no doubt that we can improve in defense and attack. That includes the Pacho/Marquinhos duo, but also Skriniar/Beraldo, as well as the full-backs. But I understand that you’re looking for individualities, duos to create a kind of hierarchy between players, but we analyze performances from a global point of view.”
Luis Enrique: “We’re working week by week to improve our efficiency”.
What will it take to turn good statistics into goals and a string of good results in the Champions League?
“I don’t know, time will tell.I have no doubt that we’ll be one of the highest-scoring teams.When will that happen?I don’t know. The problem for me is always generating goal-scoring opportunities, because that means you’ve been better than your opponent.
Obviously, we’re working week after week to improve our efficiency, but what I’m looking for as a coach is to have the same statistics as against PSV or Girona.You see the result, I see the overall picture and I’m very satisfied.Nobody can say that these results are right.”
What do you think of Antoine Griezmann?
“Griezmann is a French player, but he’s been playing in Spain for so long that you could say he has dual nationality.He’s a very versatile player, capable of playing in many different configurations. He’s a very complete player, with enormous footballing quality, always at the service of the team. His goals and assists are incredible. So we’ll have to keep a very close eye on him.
Luis Enrique “tomorrow morning we’ll check that everyone’s okay, then decide who will be number one.”
Is there a hierarchy among the goalkeepers, and could Safonov start this Wednesday?
“You’ll find out tomorrow. After a good cappuccino, I’ll decide who’ll start.That all three are ready to play is the most important thing, because if tomorrow one of them wakes up with a fever what do we do, cry?So tomorrow morning we’ll check that everyone’s okay, then decide who’s going to be number one.”
Luis Enrique “I know the fans will be behind us right up to the last minute”
What do you fear from this Atletico Madrid team?
“I have no doubt that despite their Champions League results against Benfica and Lille, I’m convinced they’ll give their best version this Wednesday.More competitive, more serious. They’ll be a tough opponent. But as we’re playing at home, I know the fans will be behind us right up to the last minute.And that’s the only objective we have: to be competitive throughout the match.”
Luis Enrique “He’s clearly the leader of the team and we hope he can stay at this level for many years to come.”
Could you have been a coach and a good coach of this Atletico Madrid team?
“Yes, I had contacts, but I already had my commitment with another club. They were lucky to find Simeone, because I wouldn’t have stayed half the years he did, because I don’t have the energy he has.They’ve found the best coach possible.”
How do you deal with the physical disparity of your players and the need to pick up points?
“A coach shouldn’t make any calculations. All the players want to play and everyone is ready.”
Marquinhos is set to honor his 200th as captain tomorrow, how indispensable has he become in your eyes?
“The numbers speak for themselves.For me as a coach it’s a chance to have a player with his profile, talent and personality.And he’s still young.He’s clearly the leader of the team and we hope he can stay at this level for many years to come.”
