On Friday, during the 9th matchday of the 2026-2027 Ligue 1 season, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) will face Le Havre (18th) at the Stade Océane (kick-off at 7:00 PM, CET). On the eve of this encounter, Paris coach Luis Enrique answered several questions during a press conference.
Luis Enrique: “There will be ups and downs, especially during the first season.”
Mika Godts is going to be a father and was decisive in the last match; how is he progressing at PSG?
These are typical, standard occurrences during the necessary adaptation period. Mika arrived at the start of the season, and we are happy with how he has adapted. We need to stay calm and appreciate each player. Every player will experience ups and downs, particularly during their first season.
You are on track to become the PSG manager with the most wins, and you’re receiving a lot of praise… Do you have any flaws?
I’ve been around long enough to know the kind of “music”—the kind of noise—that surrounds a big club. Things are going very well for the team right now, so the current commentary is to be expected. If things were going poorly, there would still be noise—just less pleasant noise. There is always noise.
Luis Enrique: “He is a great fit for what we are looking for.”
What are Safonov’s standout qualities?
That’s easy. When he arrived, he faced the challenge of performing at a top-tier club. He has done everything right. He is a great fit for what we are looking for and what we want. In modern football, you need a goalkeeper who is constantly in sync with the defensive line. He is eager to keep improving, he’s very courageous, and he does everything we ask of him—both in terms of building up play and defending. I’m very pleased.
What is your take on the Ballon d’Or rankings?
Nothing at all. I’m just glad it’s over—that’s the best part.
Luis Enrique: “Injuries are part of top-level football.”
There have been more injuries in recent weeks—how do you explain that? Is it a result of the World Cup or the demands of previous seasons?
We like to have as much control as possible. The issue of injuries is significant. Some players are simply better at avoiding injuries, while for others, they occur more frequently. We try to gauge the workload for each player to prevent injuries. I believe that throughout my coaching career, we’ve managed to keep this under control. There are better times and worse times, but it’s always a challenge. Injuries are simply a part of top-level football.
Substitutes often turn matches around—how do you view this? Is it a hallmark of your approach?
If I look back at what we’ve done over the last three years, this has been the norm. Naturally, players coming off the bench face an opponent that is more fatigued, and they’ve also had the chance to observe the match as it unfolded. It’s quite common for a substitute to come on and improve the situation.
Luis Enrique: “We want to shorten the adaptation period and help him reach his best version to support the team.”
Lucas Digne hasn’t played much so far—is it a physical issue, or is he struggling to grasp the tactical instructions?
You can interpret it however you like. Some players adapt very quickly—you might expect that from an experienced French player—but it doesn’t always work out that way; conversely, some players adapt faster than anticipated. But we know Lucas well; there’s no underlying issue. We simply want to shorten his adaptation period and bring out the best in him to help the team.
Le Havre is having a difficult start to the season, but they nearly staged a comeback against OM—did you see that? It was almost a remontada.
No, just a few snippets. But it was only almost a comeback. What I can say about Le Havre is that they deserve more points; they’ve always caused us problems, and that won’t change. They play with three central attackers and wing-backs—they’re the team that sends in the most crosses in Ligue 1. We’ve always faced challenges against them, both defensively and offensively. Tomorrow, we’ll need to be ready to overcome all of that.
Luis Enrique: “His level is incredible.”
Does Vitinha still manage to impress you?
Not “impress,” per se, because I know him very well. What he brings to the team is so unique. It’s a real pleasure to have a player with his physical, technical, and mental capabilities. He’s still looking to improve—defensively, for instance. It’s a high bar, but his level is incredible—even if his standing in the Ballon d’Or rankings doesn’t reflect what he deserves.
How far can Doué go?
Usually, the hardest thing for a player with this level of technical ability and at this age to deal with is the outside noise. I know him very well; he has an incredible capacity for hard work. He is always eager to help the team. Even when he’s on the bench, he’s the one with the biggest smile—it’s truly remarkable. For any football lover, he is a joy to watch. I encourage him to keep going just as he is—remaining both humble and ambitious. He needs to keep doing exactly what he’s doing.
Luis Enrique: “We need every single player.”
Could the absences provide an opportunity for younger players to get closer to the first team?
It’s the same group as for the last match. This season is a bit different because we have a slightly larger squad. But if we want to be ambitious and perform well throughout the entire season, we need every single player. There will be times when some get more playing time than others, but being ready is an absolute prerequisite.
Does being in first place help with preparation?
We are exactly where we want to be, but we are preparing with full focus, knowing that things will be difficult. We cannot afford to lose our concentration—we have the experience of previous seasons to draw on.
