On Friday, during Matchday 2 of the 2026-2027 Ligue 1 season, Paris Saint-Germain (8th) will face Lille (3rd) at the Stade Pierre Mauroy (kick-off at 8:45 PM, CET). On the eve of the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique answered several questions during a press conference.
Luis Enrique: “We’re missing a lot of things. But that’s the case for all the other teams, too.”
What is PSG missing at the start of this season? Last year, you spoke about the “feel” for the ball.
I remember that comment, but that was after just a few training sessions. It’s tricky; we’ve had more time now. We have the technical quality. Clearly, we’re missing a lot of things. But it’s the same for the other teams—nothing to worry about.
Luis Enrique: “There’s nothing to it. I’m a huge admirer of Ousmane Dembélé.”
Why is Dembélé being rested? Do we have to accept letting players rest?
It’s nothing new; don’t you remember past seasons? It’s happened before with Ousmane, Achraf, Kylian… There’s nothing to it. I’m a huge admirer of Ousmane Dembélé. He’s a key player for us, a top-level player. He made a huge effort this summer to be with us for the finals at the start of the season. He was, is, and will continue to be a key player for us. He made a good decision this season. We might have to do the same with other players as the season goes on.
I’m convinced we’re on the right track. I know that every difficult decision creates noise around PSG. If a player hasn’t played well or if there are better options, you have to accept it. The players are used to the way I handle things.
Luis Enrique: “He’s a true leader; nothing changes. That’s how we manage things.”
Is Barcola on his way out? What’s your assessment of him?
He is still a PSG player.
Will we see more rotation and tougher competition for places?
It’s worth noting that I’m always open to giving players a rest so they can switch off. It’s very important, and it’s happened before. Ousmane put in a tremendous effort; now is the time to take a breather. I am a huge admirer of Ousmane Dembélé; he is a unique player. I have faith in him. He is a true leader—nothing has changed there. That is how we handle things.
A word on Davide Ancelotti, the Lille coach?
Everyone knows him. He has played a very important role alongside Carlo Ancelotti in recent years. I pay close attention to him; I like his demeanor on the bench and the way he shares his views with his father. From what I’ve seen of him and the way he handled things at Real Madrid, he is very intelligent. He is a very good coach, and he has the opportunity to prove it at Lille. It will be exciting to face him. I’m really looking forward to the match—well, I’m not actually playing, of course (smiles).
Luis Enrique: “I’ve never coached a club for this long, but I have the same drive I did on day one.”
Do expectations rise for you as you win trophies?
Whether we win trophies or not matters, of course, but what makes me proudest is what we represent—the way we want to play. Anything can happen, but the way we play, and how we handle defeat or victory, is more important. That’s our identity.
This is my fourth year here; it’s a record for me. I’ve never coached a club for this long, but I have the same drive I did on day one. I feel the trust of the management and the fans. It’s been a wonderful journey, and I hope it lasts a long time yet.
Why follow the draw while on the exercise bike? Is it a superstition?
Not at all (laughs). Superstition is an Italian or Argentine thing (laughs). I’m joking—I can’t say anything bad about that. But I’ll stay calm; I’ll check the draw when I get home and see what’s in store. I’d happily take the same results we’ve had over the last two years.
Luis Enrique: “To win multiple major trophies, I need 23 players, not 11.”
Are you encouraging him to become more of a regular starter here?
You like to label players as either starters or substitutes. But to win trophies, you need a team. We’ve won a lot because we’ve had players like Gonçalo Ramos, Lee Kang-In, and Barcola. They’ve been crucial.
You don’t win anything with just 11 players. I’m very open-minded. If you show you’re performing better, there’s no issue. We look for the players we believe are the best—for that specific match. But to win several major trophies, I need 23 players, not 11.
Luis Enrique: “It’s a way of showing that success requires effort from every player.”
Are set-pieces a real weapon?
You know things are going well when you come here and there are no questions about set-pieces. It keeps coming up (smiles). That’s very positive, because we are one of the best teams in Europe at set-pieces, both defensively and offensively.
In our league last season, we were clearly the best in both areas. We discussed this with the team this week. You always have to stay alert. The coaching staff—especially Rafel Pol—have done an incredible job.
Should the player who makes the pass before the assist be recognized just like the assist-maker and the goalscorer?
It’s a team effort. If someone is missing, it doesn’t work. You need everyone. Finishing the move is the hardest part, but a lot has to happen before that. For the past two years, we’ve placed much more value on the assist; it’s a way of showing that success requires effort from every player.
