For the 7th matchday of Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain traveled to face RC Strasbourg. Following the match, Luis Enrique appeared at a press conference to discuss the result and his players’ performance.
Luis Enrique: “It’s always a positive for us.”
A difficult match?
“We anticipated these difficulties. It’s been the same story every time we’ve played away from home. Regardless of the level of the substitutes, the players coming off the bench always have the benefit of more information and preparation. They consistently make the difference. But, clearly, it’s always a positive for us to have that and to secure all three points.”
Did the substitutes make the difference again?
“That’s standard! In every match, when players come off the bench, they’re less fatigued than the rest. It’s typical—there’s more space on the pitch, and there’s a scoreline that might be unfavorable and needs to be changed. We’re happy; it was a very tough game.
I think we started the match well. We created some big chances, but we didn’t score. Later, we conceded a goal, and things got a bit shaky, but in the end, we achieved what we were looking for: the win. We’re happy.”
Luis Enrique: “We decided not to take any risks.”
Regarding Nuno Mendes coming off?
“Nuno had a minor physical issue. We decided not to take any risks. Tomorrow, we’ll look into it further with the doctor to determine the extent of the injury. But we chose to play with one man fewer rather than take any chances.”
Luis Enrique: “Ousmane is a very different kind of player.”
A great performance from Dembélé—he was involved in every goal?
“That’s just how Ousmane is. I’ve never thought of Ousmane—or any other player—as a machine, or expected them to always be at the top of their game. There are matches, or moments throughout a season, where you might not be at your best. But Ousmane is a very different kind of player. It’s a real pleasure to have someone like him; 25 minutes is all he needs to score a goal and provide an assist.”
Luis Enrique: “He already knew everything about how to play the game.”
Has Dembélé’s greatest career progression been in his understanding of the game?
“He spent time at the best school of football there is: FC Barcelona. He already knew everything about how to play. Whenever you watch a Barça-trained player, they naturally align with the style of football I like. He understands perfectly whether he needs to stay wide or move inside… An understanding of the game is fundamental for us, and having players who already possess that experience makes a world of difference.”
Luis Enrique: “We’re missing a specialist.”
Another missed penalty?
“He was frustrated about the penalty. Our statistics in that area aren’t great. We’re missing a specialist, but given the players we have, we certainly have options.”
