On Sunday, as part of the Club World Cup 2025 Round of 8, Paris Saint-Germain will take on Inter Miami at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium (kick-off 9pm CET, broadcast on CDAZN). On the eve of the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique answered a number of questions at a press conference.
Luis Enrique “We’re professionals, we know what we’re playing for.”
What match are you expecting?
That’s the question! That’s what we always ask ourselves before the match. You can imagine, but it’s hard to know exactly. But I think we’re ready and I hope we’ll be able to play our soccer.
How are the players feeling after 1 week training in the humidity and heat? Is it good to be playing in an air-conditioned, covered stadium?
The stadium is exceptional. I’ve been able to see it, and I hope the condition of the pitch will be perfect. It’s a very motivating match for all the players. It’s been a great week. We’re already used to the heat. I think we’ll have a very good match. The stadium is air-conditioned, which will be perfect for the match we’re expecting.
It’s a match like any other, even if you’ll be joined by a number of former Barça players?
Of course, in terms of emotions it will be different, special. I’m meeting up with a lot of players and friends. We’ll have a chat before the match and afterwards (smiles). But we’re professionals, we know what we’re playing for. You have to concentrate and prepare well. That’s the most important thing.
Luis Enrique “It’s a special moment for me, for the club, for the players who played with Messi.”
Dembélé, how important is it to have him back at this time? How is Kimpembe doing?
Dembélé’s been training all week, so I don’t want to take any risks with anyone. We’ll just have to see. We have to think about what we’re going to do. I’m not taking any risks with our players.
You won the Champions League 10 years ago with some of Inter Miami’s players, have you given your players any advice?
My players have a lot of experience, even though they’re young. It’s a special moment for me, for the club and for the players who played with Messi. It’s a motivating match given the greatness of the players and the coach.
It’s going to be a special and difficult match. It’s going to be harder than some people think. They’re a good side, players who have won a lot in their careers. It’s great to prepare for a match like that.
Luis Enrique “As the competition goes on, it’s even easier to motivate the players. They’ll perform well.”
How do you maintain the right mentality in the group, to avoid them slackening off and thinking about the vacations?
It’s a highly motivating competition, for all the teams and all the players. It doesn’t matter what’s happened before in the season. We started on July 14, 2024, and if we go all the way it’ll be 364 days of work. We’re coming up to the final phase, and we need to find the motivation. The competition kicks off fully with this final phase.
At the end of 90 minutes, perhaps with extra time, one team will qualify and not the other. We know we’ll have to put in a great performance. As the competition progresses, it’s even easier to motivate the players. They’ll perform well.
Luis Enrique: “We have great motivation to show that we can still improve, that we want to be competitive.
How does it feel to face Mascherano? He said you’re a role model and friend?
I’m not surprised, I knew him well as a player and I know him as a coach today. I’ve known for a long time that he would become a coach. I’ve shared many things with him and his family. It’s great to see that he’s a coach, he’s got the time to become a great one and I wish him all the best.
Do you think the players you once knew still have what it takes to hurt your team?
There’s no doubt about it, they haven’t lost their qualities. I’ve seen their games and they’ve got the quality. They’ll be hard to press, and we know they’re capable of doing great things with the ball. Everyone knows Busquets, Suarez, the combinations between Alba and Messi. It’s obvious that we’re up against a great opponent, who won’t make the match easy.
It’s a great motivation. We won the Champions League recently, but we’re highly motivated to show that we can still improve, that we want to be competitive. There’s no better scenario than this stadium and this opponent, with Messi in particular. You have to take advantage of a player like that.
Luis Enrique “things that belong to another dimension.”
A complicated match tomorrow?
Yes, as I said. It’s going to be tough. We know soccer well, and there’s no room for complacency. Soccer is like that. The match goes by quickly, and we’ll have to impose our game right from the start.
Is it difficult to strike a balance between enjoying the Champions League and continuing to work towards the World Cup?
Yes, that’s something we thought about before coming here. There has to be a balance so that the players can relax, but also be competitive. But it’s a team I’m lucky to have, with a lot of hungry youngsters. You can see it in training and throughout the season.
How did Messi affect you as a coach?
I knew him in his prime, which lasted 10-15 years. For me, he’s the best player in history, with his longevity and continuity. I had the opportunity to win everything with him at Barça. I was able to enjoy his day-to-day life and see things that belong to another dimension. He has a way of handling certain situations that makes everything easy. It’s very exciting.
Inter Miami are hoping to gain possession, what are the keys to that for you?
I have the same objective: to control the ball and use it to the full. And to control space.
Luis Enrique “We have to defend collectively, so that everyone is ready to defend, to have the ball.”
Is South American refereeing different?
I’m not interested in that. I’m focused on what I can control. The referee and his assistants do their best. I trust him.
Do you have a plan to stop Messi?
To be honest, we don’t need just one player, otherwise we’re dead. We have to defend collectively, with everyone ready to defend and get the ball. It will be a collective effort. Messi can dribble past anyone.
Have Alba, Busquets and Messi said good things about you?
It’s always nice to know you’ve left something positive behind, even if there are ups and downs along the way. We have to be demanding, take the players out of their comfort zone, but we also have to generate confidence.
Luis Enrique “The best player in Europe for me is Dembélé, without a doubt.”
Will Dembélé help you win the Ballon d’Or if you win the World Cup?
The best player in Europe for me is Dembélé, without a doubt. For the way he’s been a leader, the way he’s helped the team win titles with style.
What’s positive about the Club World Cup?
There’s the connection with the people, which you don’t usually see. It’s a rarer opportunity for them to see the players, and for us too. It’s also interesting to play against other teams.
A match with two teams looking for the same thing? How do you defend against Messi?
When you have players of this level, you have to be particularly careful and avoid situations that allow them to express themselves. The idea is to get the ball away from our goal. We want to have possession. Otherwise, there will be complications. That’s not what we want. There’s only one ball and only one team can have it, then you have to adapt.
