On Tuesday, as part of Matchday 5 of the 2024-2025 Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain (25th) take on Bayern Munich (17th) at the Allianz Arena (kick-off 9pm, broadcast on Canal+Foot in France). On the eve of this encounter, Paris coach Luis Enrique answered a number of questions at a press conference.
Luis Enrique “Whoever doesn’t get it will suffer. Whether it’s us or them.”
Since the defeat to Atlético, why are you so confident about tomorrow’s match?
Confidence comes with every day and every week thanks to my team when I see them train.
Bayern Munich also like to control the ball, so do you expect to be under pressure tomorrow?
(Laughs) Clearly, I think we’re a lot like Bayern. Both teams want the ball, press high and are aggressive. Statistics show that we’re very similar, both in attack and defense. In terms of chances created and conceded.
The problem is, there’s only one ball. Whoever doesn’t get it is going to suffer. Whether it’s us or them.
Luis Enrique “We need to raise our game on this pitch.”
How has your team progressed since October and the defeat to Arsenal?
In all our games except the one against Arsenal, our team has performed better than the opposition, in terms of using the ball and defending. That’s what we’re going to do.
Now, tomorrow will be difficult, more complicated than usual. And we’ll have to put in a huge effort when we don’t have the ball. We need to raise our game on this pitch.
Luis Enrique “What counts are the goals scored and we need to improve.”
Do you feel that PSG are under a bit more pressure? Can it be positive?
It’s obvious that we’ve already played 4 games and there are results that mean we need points. We don’t know exactly how many we need, but we need to win to move forward.
We’ve caused complications, we haven’t had the results we deserved, but that’s soccer. What counts are the goals scored, and we need to improve.
Luis Enrique “We don’t depend on just one player and we want to improve every statistic.”
Barcola is the top scorer in Ligue 1, but he needs to turn a corner in the LDC?
I think if you look at a player’s numbers, you also have to look at those of past years. It’s difficult for such a young player. You also have to wait until the end of the season.
We’ve got better numbers than last year, so we’re looking at our strengths. We don’t depend on just one player, and we want to improve every individual statistic, from every player.
Luis Enrique “Bayern are one of the favourites in this competition every year, they’re a club with a special history.”
Last season, you played against Dortmund, who can be similar, what are you dreading?
You can’t make generalizations. Bayern are one of the favourites in this competition every year, and they’re a club with a special history.
They’re the team I see closest to us in Europe, along with Manchester City perhaps. They want to play high and press very high, very aggressively to win it back. There will be two teams clashing with similar ideas. It’s going to be a great match.
Is Gonçalo Ramos back and ready to start?
He’s in the final process, with the intention of being able to play, I don’t know when.
Safonov is coming on strong at PSG, how do you rate him?
All the players have to be ready. One of my most important principles is that every player must be ready for every match, all season long.
Luis Enrique “We’ll be brave, we’ll take risks.”
Is this match an opportunity for your young team to prove that it can compete with one of the best?
We’re at a very high level. Whether you like our performances or not, I’m happy with what I see. We can improve, of course.
But we’re still going to play with our ideas, play high, press, be aggressive. We’re going to be brave, we’re going to take risks. This is our way of playing and there won’t be any other. And if the opponent is better, then we’ll applaud him and get back to work.
Can Kimpembe play tomorrow or soon?
He’s doing much better, he’s going through a process. It was important for him to be in the group and in training. Gonçalo Ramos is more ready to play.
Luis Enrique “all players must be ready, no matter what their name is.”
Does Safonov have the profile to play against Bayern’s pressing?
The answer is the same: all the players have to be ready, whatever their name, whether it’s Pepe, Lucas, Antoine or Quentin.
When a team is pressing high up the pitch, you’ve used Dembélé in the middle on several occasions, why ?
There are several ways of countering the opposition’s pressure. You can use short passes to try and beat the pressure, you can use a 9 to draw the ball in, or you can play deep. Everyone has their own solution. You can choose yours and I can choose mine.
Bayern’s sporting director has said that PSG tried to recruit Kimmich.
I don’t make the slightest comment on a player who isn’t in the squad.
