On Wednesday, in an advanced match on Matchday 16 of Ligue 1 2024-2025, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) take on Monaco (3rd) at the Stade Louis II (kick-off 9pm, broadcast on beIN SPORTS). On the eve of the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique answered a number of questions at a press conference.
Luis Enrique “I’ll try to call up the players I feel are best prepared for this match.”
Skriniar and Kolo Muani sidelined and sold this winter?
We have a very tough match tomorrow against Monaco, one of our direct title rivals. I’ll try to call up the players I feel are best prepared for the match.
Which teams have impressed you the most in Ligue 1? What do you think of Monaco?
I think Monaco were without doubt one of the toughest opponents last season and again this year. They’ve got some very technical players, a top-notch coach and some great suggestions for the game. Marseille are well placed this year.
Last year Brest, Lille and Nice were very strong. This year, in the Champions League, we can see that there are more teams than PSG to perform well. It’s a high level and there’s nothing easy about it. We always have the impression that we have an obligation to win, given our potential. But Ligue 1 is stronger than I thought, and I hear other coaches say so. And you can see that in Europe.
Luis Enrique “We want to give him some rest, but it’s not easy in the calendar.”
Hakimi, how do you manage his playing time and the second half of the season?
That’s a job for me and my staff, we want to give each player the right amount of playing time. Each player’s playing time and physical profile are different. He’s a world-class player in this area, and we’re taking advantage of that.
He played a lot last year and at the Olympics. We want to give him a rest, but it’s not easy in the calendar.
Is it always difficult to travel to Monaco?
I remember a draw last season, and it could have gone either way. It’s always difficult away from home, and even more so against a direct rival. But I think it’s characteristic of us to be competitive wherever we are.
Luis Enrique “There’s not enough of an advantage.”
With a 10-point lead, would the championship be over?
No. Championships are won mathematically at the end of the season. Three days ago, we had 5 points, now 7. A lot can happen, there’s a big calendar. There’s not enough of an advantage.
Is an unbeaten season far too early to think about, or is it a motivating factor?
I think it’s just a question of numbers… I’d never thought about it. I want to win trophies, that’s why I’m here. But the fact that you’re talking about seems difficult. What counts is our game, our behaviour and our ideas. The rest is hard to see. Even more so in this calendar with matches every 3 days.
Luis Enrique: “Sometimes we lose players. But it doesn’t depend on me, it depends on them.”
What improvements would you like to see in your team?
I’d like to have 2 players in each position who can be starters. Real competition. I even have 3 goalkeepers. In the other positions, we sometimes lose players. But that doesn’t depend on me, it depends on them. The key to growing as a team is for the players not to know in advance whether they’re going to play. They have to be aware that another player may take their place.
Can you explain why Kolo Muani isn’t in the squad and isn’t playing much?
I could explain, but I don’t. The decisions say it all very clearly. Decisions say everything very clearly. Situations are reversible. It doesn’t matter who the players are. Everything can be changed. But I’m not going to go into details, I don’t do that. I prefer to be criticized, that’s what I’m used to.
Luis Enrique “I think it’s a shame when a player disconnects, but I’m here to decide.”
What positions do you have in mind for recruitment?
I know it’s utopian to have 2 players in every position, because nobody has that. There’s always one player who takes over and one who plays less. But it’s important for a player to feel that if his form drops, he could lose his place. I think it’s a shame when a player disconnects, but I’m here to decide. I’m a coach.
I know you want the details, but I repeat that all situations are reversible. But you have to show me. It’s not easy. It’s easy to complain or say that a player should play.
The other thing I’m looking for is 14, 15, 17 regulars! The better the group, the higher the level of training. This prepares us for all competitions.
Zaire-Emery back in form?
Warren is a player with a very high level of play. I’ve never seen him less good.
Luis Enrique “Non-verbal language is very clear. If a player doesn’t want to talk to me, I respect him.”
Dembélé lacks the consistency to take things to the next level?
I’ve known him very well for years, both as a person and as a player. I’ve always defended him. He’s a very likeable person and an excellent player. That’s why I want him to give his best performance. That goes for all players. I make my decisions to get the best out of a player or the team. It doesn’t matter whether I talk to him a lot or less. I’d like to be close to all the players, but that’s impossible.
Non-verbal language is very clear. If a player doesn’t want to talk to me, I respect that. I know my job, I know how to do it, and my decisions depend on what I see. And if I’m wrong, it can happen, it’s with my ideas.
Are you expecting a high or low Monaco tomorrow?
That’s the question we ask each other before each match. We look at what our opponents have done in the weeks leading up to the game, and last year if it was the same coach.
Last year, at Le Parc, they pressed high and we were able to get out, and then at their place it was more varied. They can do both. We need to be prepared for both and be open to all possibilities. Monaco are better than last year, so it’s going to be a tough game.
Luis Enrique “It’s the workload and training that will give the indications.”
When will Kimpembe be able to play? Before the summer break?
No, I don’t know. It’s a very different case. It’s been two years since he’s played a full professional soccer match, with 2 different relapses. It’s very risky to speed up the process. It’s the workload and training that will give the indications. It’s a physical concern, not a medical one, which is good. I’m waiting to see how competitive he is.
Monaco beat Barcelona in the Champions League, a team made to beat possession?
Do you remember the red card early on in that match? That’s an important fact of the game. Monaco have a very high level of play, and they know how to keep things off balance. Their profile is very similar to that of Lyon. They’ve improved defensively. We’re going to have to give a very good version of our team defensively and offensively. But we’re used to being up to the task in these games.
