On Tuesday, in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France 2024-2025, Paris Saint-Germain (1st in Ligue 1) take on Dunkerque (5th in Ligue 2) at Stade Pierre-Mauroy (kick-off 9.10pm, UTC+1). On the eve of the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique answered a number of questions at a press conference.
Luis Enrique “I’ll ask the players if they can help.”
PSG are ultra-favorites with the teams still in contention. But the first half-hour against Saint-Etienne shows that the risk for Paris is to take the others by the scruff of the neck?
After analyzing the match, I think the first half-hour was mainly down to Saint-Etienne’s level. We were below our usual pace. Saint-Etienne, on the other hand, were very strong. The first 30 minutes were also the result. You can’t always control everything.
Did Ramos and Neves talk about coach Luis Castro?
No, of course I know him. I’ve only just heard. I’ll ask the players if they can help. But we’ve analyzed Dunkirk. They’ve got a great team, who knocked out Auxerre and Brest away from home. They’re very strong.
I like the style of this team, who dare to go forward from the back, who press, who play the offside, they’re a team that gets in the way, complicated to play. Their ranking and their presence here don’t surprise me. I hope they don’t do well tomorrow.
Luis Enrique “We have to manage excess euphoria. All excesses are dangerous.”
With another busy schedule, how do you manage the final stretch of the season?
The usual way. You should be used to it by now. Since the start of last season, we haven’t based our programme on a single match. We think in general terms. And we love having a busy schedule, which means we’re in the thick of competitions. We’re going to do what we always do, using as many of our players as possible.
Are you still surprised by your players?
No, I’m not surprised. It doesn’t surprise me because I know them perfectly. But we’re in a new phase for some players, because we’re getting praise. And in general, praise weakens you, and can lead to mistakes. And I’m working with all the players to make sure there’s no slacking off.
The aim is to think that all matches and opponents bring difficulties. They want to win against us. We have to manage excessive euphoria. All excesses are dangerous.
Luis Enrique “focus on work, improvement and the things the team needs.”
How far can Doué go? How do you work with him on a daily basis?
I’m talking in general rather than about a player. That’s where the excess is, with the compliments, the joys. It can take its toll. That goes for all players, especially the young ones. It’s nice to hear positive things, but you have to focus on work, improvement and the things the team needs.
That will help us get through the difficult times. There’s been criticism of Barcola and Doué. That’s part of soccer and you have to accept it. We have to concentrate on the team.
Luis Enrique “We want to make history, and to do that we have to take every game very seriously.”
How do you prepare the players mentally for the fact that they’re favourites?
We started at Lens, with a penalty shoot-out. Then Espaly, Le Mans, Le Stade Briochin, all away games, and now Dunkerque. How do we play these games? Always the same way, regardless of the opponent. We don’t change, we want to improve our performance.
So we have to respect our opponents and play as hard as we can, whatever the score. I want to play more and more, and for the team to improve. We want to make history, and to do that we have to take every game very seriously. Starting tomorrow.
Have you made any progress as a coach this season?
One of the constants in my career is always to change things, to look for things to improve. I think I’ve made a lot of progress, even though I’ve had some success right from the start. What do you need to change? The ones you don’t necessarily see.
Even when you’re winning, there are things. Not just when we’re losing. Our strength is to always ask ourselves whether what we do in training shows up in the match. If not, we change and look for another option.
Luis Enrique “It’s something we’ve improved on this season.”
Barcola is the symbol of what you’re looking for, putting the collective before individuality?
He defines it perfectly. He started the season with goals, then he was one of the players who best understood that if a player is in a better position then you have to make the pass. Even when he’s facing the keeper. He was decisive 33 times. The forwards are very generous.
That’s something we’ve improved on this season, especially when we were ineffective, by looking for the best-placed player. We’re scoring more, one of the best attacks in Europe. And we have one of the best defences, which is important. So yes, it validates the importance of giving the ball to the player in the best position.
Luis Enrique “I like judging with them. Even if I’m the one who decides.”
What kind of dialogue do you have with the staff and players?
It’s all spontaneous. We always have compositions and moments that we evaluate in private. Then we talk to the players. That’s what training sessions and day-to-day life are for. I like that in particular.
One of the best things is to live with the players and share with them. I like judging with them. Even if I’m the one who decides, of course. They want to play, even if it hurts. We like to have the information we need to make decisions.
Mbaye scored, and the whole group congratulated him. Have you seen any progress from his side? Could he start tomorrow or in the future?
Without a doubt. He’s already been training with us for 1 year. His progress is obvious. The evolution is physical and mental, for all the youngsters who arrive with the professionals. I see a very mature young man.
What I like about him is his aptitude. When he comes back with the U19s or U23s, he has an excellent defensive attitude. It’s a gamble for the club, you have to take it one step at a time. He’s the player who shows us how fast we need to move. We elected him to help us.
Luis Enrique “the level of French teams has been demonstrated in European competitions.”
Is Ligue 1 still as attractive as ever?
I understand that this year, with the difference in points we have over the 2nd-placed team, it may be different. But we’re breaking records, which means it’s never been done before. But I believe that the level of French teams has been demonstrated in European competitions. It’s very clear. A French club can win the Champions League.
Will there be a big turnover tomorrow? Who will be the goalkeeper?
Nice try (smile). Don’t worry, there will be 11 PSG players well prepared to be competitive, and like our supporters, never let up.
