Paris Saint-Germain drew 1-1 with Nantes (video highlights Nantes/PSG) on Tuesday at the Stade de la Beaujoire in the late match of Matchday 29 of Ligue 1 2024-2025. After the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique spoke at a press conference.
Enrique “I’d like to congratulate Christophe Galtier, who started this series.”
How do you explain the lack of control?
“From whom? Nantes or us? All I saw was control, all the time. What kind of question is that? We had total control and they had counter-attacks, which they do very well. They’re an opponent who tried to play. They have two very good strikers. We played against a low block. I don’t know what game you’re talking about.”
Are these Ligue 1 matches good preparation for the Champions League?
“We need to know which Arsenal we’re going to face. If they open the scoring, they might be in a low block afterwards and it could be similar. At the start, they’ll be pressing more a priori. We’ll adapt to what’s on offer.
Today, we lacked movement without the ball at the start of the match. We played too much at our feet, when we should have been playing deeper. Then we changed things up, with more movement, changes of direction and more penetration without the ball.
In the end, we controlled things better. We made a serious mistake, out of approximation, when we needed to play quickly. Nantes resisted well after that. It’s a shame Gonçalo Ramos could have given us a win.
But it’s a special day. We beat an exceptional record, held by the great AC Milan. I’d like to congratulate Christophe Galtier, who started this series. Well done to my players! 39 games unbeaten away from home, you need a bit of luck to achieve that kind of record. It would have been even better to celebrate with a win.
Enrique “We’re trying to find the best formula to arrive in good shape for the French Cup final and the Champions League.”
Is the most important thing for you to be injury-free?
“There’s still a month of competition left. I’m not counting the Club World Cup, which belongs to next season for me. Right now, we’re trying to manage our playing time. To prepare, you have to play matches and win them. It’s not easy. We’re trying to find the best formula to arrive in good shape for the French Cup final and the Champions League.”
Do you prefer to play against low blocks or high-pressing teams?
“It doesn’t matter. It all depends on the opponent and what he proposes. PSG has to be ready for any situation. We’re good whatever the scenario. We’re very good at playing against high pressure, as well as against a midfield block and also against a low block. Nantes caused us problems both in the first and second legs, and we lacked control on one occasion, the equaliser.”
Do you find Ousmane Dembélé upset at the moment?
“I don’t know. You’re imagining things sometimes. You’d have to ask Ousmane. Everyone deals with their emotions the way they want to, can and know how. As a coach, I want to lead them together towards the goal. The most important thing is that we all arrive with hope towards the matches we have left, the goals we have to achieve.”
