On Tuesday, as part of Matchday 6 of the Champions League 2024-2025 league phase, Paris Saint-Germain (ranked 25th) take on RB Salzburg (ranked 32nd) at the Red Bull Arena (kick-off 9pm, broadcast on Canal+Foot in France). On the eve of the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique answered a number of questions at a press conference.
Luis Enrique: “It’s a wonderful match”.
A special match tomorrow? Any pressure?
I feel it’s a wonderful match, which has all the ingredients to please a coach or a player from this club. Since the start of the competition, we’ve played some top-level matches, and we’re heading towards the end of this phase with a lot of teams needing points. So the aim is to win, as always, knowing the risk if we don’t.
What chance do you give yourselves of qualifying?
I don’t think anyone knows how many points we’ll need to qualify. Nobody can say. We only know the current standings. We want to win the remaining games, that’s the objective.
Luis Enrique “It’s the day-to-day life of a great club and it’s wonderful.”
You have an intense schedule, is it a period of great danger for you?
It’s a typical PSG week. That’s why we’re at PSG and why we’re in these competitions. I’m not interested in the other games yet, just tomorrow’s. That’s the day-to-day life of a PSG player. It’s the day-to-day life of a great club and it’s wonderful.
Have you found the formula for scoring?
It’s very clear: create as many chances as possible and concede as few as possible. I think our numbers are very good, there are several that show we have a good chance of winning. Then, whether we’re effective or not. That’s soccer. We’re working to improve.
We need confidence and we need to insist, insist, insist. There’s no other way.
Luis Enrique “my team gives me confidence.”
Are you expecting a release tomorrow or are you remaining cautious?
There’s no such thing as an easy away game. It’s a vitally important match. We mustn’t let the players be affected. But based on what I’ve seen of the games we’ve played, I like what I’ve seen and my team gives me confidence. Whether we’ll be effective or not, we’ll see. We’ve been effective in the league, but less so in the Champions League. When that balances out, we’ll be performing at a very high level.
Barcola said he was happy for Salzburg to press, because you’d have to be in transition.
I think our opponents need points, just as we do. After that, they play high or not. Salzburg is used to playing high up and then you don’t know. It also depends on the score. I’m always open to using the space available.
I think we’ve dominated in almost every game. Then it depends on the opponent. You can adapt to anything, whether they press or play low. Then it depends on how high the opponent is.
Luis Enrique “I don’t base my choice of players on age.”
Any pressure on the players, do you adapt your discourse with your squad given their youth?
I think our players are young, but they have experience. They have high standards. It’s all about getting the best out of each player, individually and collectively.
I like these matches. Like last year against Dortmund or Real Sociedad. I like this aspect of the final. Whether the players are young or old enough to handle the pressure, I don’t have much faith in that. I don’t base my choice of players on age. I go by what I see.
Hernandez “if he’s in the group, he can play.”
Hernandez’s return, where did he miss out? Can he play?
When a player is seriously injured, you think about the person and not the player. But he’s been at a high level over the last few weeks and if he’s in the squad, it’s because he can play. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be here.
A word about coach Pepijn Lijnders, who spoke very highly of you?
It’s his first season here, and he’s a world-renowned, experienced coach. His soccer is appreciated, with the desire to build attacks. He has a lot of young players. I’d like to thank him for all his hard work. I’m sure he’ll make things difficult for us tomorrow. Of course, they want to win.
