Paris Saint-Germain beat Olympique de Marseille 0-3 (OM/PSG video highlights) on Sunday at the Stade Vélodrome as part of Matchday 9 of Ligue 1 2024-2025. After the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique (54) spoke at a press conference. The Spaniard spoke of the success and his players’ overall performance.
Enrique «Il était très important de marquer le premier but»
How do you feel about the win?
“We won a Classico with authority, far from home. The match started very well for us, against a rival who knew how to play soccer very well, how to recover the ball very well, who knew how to resist the pressure.
It was very important to score the first goal and from the twentieth minute onwards, with the sending off, everything was easier for us and more difficult for our rivals.
This type of match can lead to complacency, but the team continued to work seriously. The second half was rather quiet, with our opponents staying in their own half.
We had 4-5 more chances to score goals. So I’m very satisfied, and also for our fans, because we know how important this match is for them and for us too.”
Enrique: “It’s been a very good start to the season”.
What did you think of Ousmane Dembélé’s game in a more axial position?
“I think Dembélé is capable of occupying a lot of space. We spent a large part of the match on numerical superiority, we were able to keep control of the ball and in the deep our forwards had a lot of opportunities.
I really liked that. It’s a start to the season that I think is very good, and I think we deserved to win more games, especially the last Champions League match.”
Did you have any differences before the start of the match?
“The most important thing for me was to control the emotional stage and otherwise we played the same way. Our aim is only to have the ball as long as possible, generate chances, generate goals and win.
Regardless of the opponent, the competition or the pitch, that’s our sole objective. The idea is very clear and doesn’t change.”
Enrique “Everything can be improved, whether in attack or defense”
What improvements would you like to see in your team?
“Everything can improve, whether it’s in attack or defense. That’s one constant I have as a coach, I’m a non-conformist. I want to improve everything, I want the to be more precise, I want us to run more, defend more, put in more goals. I want it all.”
Enrique “Neves is a very good reinforcement”.
Is Nuno Mendes out because of a physical problem and what does he bring to the game?
“Nuno Mendes had a problem with his stomach, and he warned us when we went back into the dressing room. That’s why he came off, but nothing else to report.”
What did you think of João Neves’ performance?
“I don’t like to talk about individual players, but of course he’s a very good reinforcement. I’d say the same of the other four players who signed during the mercato. Our aim is always to improve.”
Enrique “Youth is no excuse”.
You mentioned emotional management, did you work on that before this match?
“I think what we saw on the pitch was very telling, we saw a team that wanted it from the very first minutes. A defense that worked well, intense pressing and very good control in general.”
Can this type of match be of use in the run-up to upcoming Champions League matches?
“After analyzing the match against PSV, I’m very happy with it – we should have won it. We should have won it. Now we’ve accepted it, and it’s nothing to do with youth. Circumstances allow us to gain experience. Youth is no excuse. The Champions League is inevitably tougher for all teams. That’s a fact of life.”
