In the final match of Ligue 1’s 8th round, Paris Saint-Germain hosted Olympique Lyonnais at the Parc des Princes, securing a 2-0 victory. Speaking to PSG TV, Luis Enrique, the coach of the capital club, reflected on the win—a result that propels his side to the top of the league table.
Luis Enrique: “We scored goals through players who don’t usually get as much playing time.”
“It was a very tough match. Following our recent Champions League fixture, we had the chance to face a very strong Olympique Lyonnais side—a team with plenty of quality players and an excellent coach. I think we started the game well, but things got complicated because they defended very effectively.
In the second half, I believe we improved further, while they perhaps dropped off a bit, having done so much running. We scored goals through players who don’t usually get as much playing time. I’m really happy for Senny Mayulu, Quentin Ndjantou, Mika Godts, Lucas Beraldo, Lucas Hernandez—all the players who came off the bench!”
Luis Enrique: “I really value this kind of character and mentality.”
“It’s an important result, and one we’d like to dedicate to Kvara. We are a team that strives to win everything—that is our mentality. To do that, you have to be ready; today, the players who came on showed the right attitude to demonstrate their quality, and they deserve more playing time. It’s a difficult situation for me as a coach, but I really value this kind of character and mentality.”
It was a significant win against an OL side that had enjoyed a stellar start to the season and could have solidified their hold on the top spot. But PSG is clearly gaining momentum. Following their two Champions League victories—a commanding 4-2 win against Manchester City and a 4-2 result over FC Barcelona—the Parisians seamlessly carried that momentum into Ligue 1 against their rivals. It was the exact outcome needed to claim the top spot and send a clear message to their direct competitors.
The start of the season is always challenging for the capital club, but some period of adjustment was to be expected as the weeks progressed. This Monday, PSG demonstrated that they are truly back to 100%, even with several players sidelined. Naturally, our thoughts go out to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has suffered a torn knee ligament and will be off the pitch for many weeks—a major blow following two stellar initial seasons in the “Red and Blue” colors.
