On Sunday, during Matchday 7 of the 2025-2026 Ligue 1 season, first-place Paris Saint-Germain will face sixth-place Lille at the Stade Pierre Mauroy (kick-off at 8:45 p.m., CET). On the eve of this match, Parisian coach Luis Enrique answered several questions at a press conference.
Enrique: “We’re putting up better numbers and we want to continue.”
After 15 years as a coach, is this the squad you enjoy the most?
“It’s difficult to answer. I’ve been lucky enough to have a lot of good teams, good players with a good mentality. But I don’t know who the best is.”
What have you changed since the start of the season regarding set pieces?
“I can’t tell you, otherwise everyone will know. We’re putting up better numbers and we want to continue.”
Enrique: “I like their mentality. They’re very courageous.”
You call up a lot of young players, do you work with the youth coaches?
“There’s a connection. But when you’re the first-team coach, it’s easy; you need players, you take them. But it’s a connection, the way we all work together. I like their mentality. They’re very courageous.”
Lille vs. PSG: a special match for Lucas Chevalier. Is tomorrow a real test?
“No. The only test I see is on a sentimental level. When we sign a player, it’s because we think he’s the right man for us.”
Enrique: “I’m not one to praise the performances of French teams.”
What do you think of the performances of French clubs in the Champions League?
“You’re always concerned about the level of Ligue 1. But I’m not one to praise the performances of French, Spanish, or Italian teams. I’m here to promote PSG.”
What is your opinion of Bruno Genesio’s work?
“I can say they’re strong as a team. I know how difficult it is to face them. But we’re preparing for the match as usual and we’re simply trying to improve.”
What work have you done with Vitinha?
“I worked with Vitinha as I did with the other players. I’m the coach of all the players. But it’s normal to talk about Vitinha. He’s one of the two best midfielders in the world. I try to improve each player. But it’s obviously very interesting to see his level today.”
Enrique: “I understand the national team coaches.”
Kvaratskhelia and Joao Neves have been called up to the national team despite their injuries. Are you worried?
“I don’t know if I should talk in depth about this. I always think about the health of my players. I never want to take any risks. In the last match, João Neves warmed up with the team and didn’t play in the end. I don’t want to take any risks. Now I understand the national team coaches. It’s very different; I was one myself.”
Can this PSG team still improve?
“Yes, of course, there are many things we need to improve. Our level remains very high, and you can see that during the match. Even when the opponent plays better than us, we have this mentality to stay in the game. It’s a very difficult trait to have.
When you look at last year’s statistics, this ability to turn things around in the final minutes, it shows our ability to overcome difficulties as a team.”
