Luis Enrique, coach of Paris Saint-Germain, was in front of the press on Wednesday for a “special media day”. He answered journalists’ questions. See our full transcript below:
Luis Enrique: “You have to know how to manage these moments”.
What problems might Inter pose? Are you thinking about the French Cup final first?
I’m concentrating on the two games, the Coupe de France first. The best thing about all this is that there’s nothing very special to prepare for. We’ve come up with the kind of soccer we’re playing, and now we need to show it to its full potential.
Is the LDC final the easiest or hardest match to prepare for?
I couldn’t say. It’s the most special match. The most important one is always the next one in the season. But a final is always different. It rarely happens in a career, so you have to know how to manage these moments. That’s what we’re aiming for.
Luis Enrique “We’re going to give it our all to be the first team to win this trophy in Paris.”
Is there anything that makes you think this is the right year to win?
I don’t know, I’m not a mind reader. But what’s very important for us is our DNA, and that’s that we’re going to give everything to play our best soccer. We’re going to give everything to be the first team to win this trophy in Paris. But there’s also an opponent with a big goal.
How has Donnarumma progressed this season? Any special motivation in facing Inter?
This kind of match depends on how you manage it. He’s experienced, and he knows how to manage that to the best of his ability. He’ll be facing an opponent who’s been part of his career. As for the match, it’s a team that’s reached the final for the 2nd time in 3 years. They’re a great team, and they work well.
As far as progress is concerned, I don’t want to single anyone out. They’re a team. We’re not looking for the same thing, given the different profiles and goalkeepers. But he’s been impressive and I think we’ll see more of the same.
Luis Enrique: “The quality and ambition of the players make things easy.”
What did you learn from the semi-final against Inter?
They were 2 great games to watch as a soccer fan. I’ve analyzed them now. There were more goals than I expected. Inter Milan were almost always in front, they know how to manage things. They still have great qualities, particularly in transition, on set-pieces and defensively. I hope the final won’t be like the semi-final. But we have similar characteristics.
This will be your 2nd final, but this one is more in line with your ideas than the Barça one?
Every player dreams of playing in a final, but few can achieve it. The same goes for coaches. I have to say that my work at Barça has been exceptional. People told me it was easy, but we’ve seen that it’s not. Here, it’s a slightly different project. From day one, with the President and Luis Campos, we’ve been building the squad. There are some very high-level players, all of whom play with a team mentality. That’s rare these days. Inter Milan also have something of that profile. We had to work hard here, but the quality and ambition of the players make it easy.
Luis Enrique “It’s a key to this season.”
Is Kvaratskhelia a symbol of the soccer you want? Is he valuable defensively?
I have to say that if you analyze in depth where our team’s progress is defensively, there’s the way the forwards defend. Our attacking players are doing an exceptional job, all of them. It’s top-notch. Strangely enough, it’s one of the concepts I think is the hardest to achieve. You have to change the mindset of a striker, who is there first and foremost to attack.
But our players have this vital mentality, in order to defend as a team. Just as we ask our defenders to participate offensively, by bringing the best possible ball forward. It’s a key to this season, as it was last year, but we did it better.
Luis Enrique “instead of working, you come and enjoy yourself.”
How do you define your staff? Are you a clan?
I think the best quality I have as a coach is the choice of my staff. They make me improve, they take me out of my comfort zone, they’re very demanding. There have been changes. But I think I have this ability to be uncomfortable. Even when you’re winning, you want to improve and look for new things. Right now, without a very strong staff, a coach is nothing.
How do you maintain group cohesion in the run-up to the finals?
The secret is that instead of working, you come and enjoy yourself. That’s what we do when we play soccer. The players are privileged. Our objective at the start of the season is what we’re doing now. It was a dream and there are still 2 games to go. We want to enjoy ourselves and be ambitious for these 10 days.
How have you changed since your last Champions League appearance 10 years ago?
10 years is a long time. I was in the national team, so I couldn’t play in the Champions League. I’ve gained in experience. I was under a lot of stress and I think I can improve that. The coach has to get the message across, and I want to convey calm and serenity. Otherwise, all the mistakes I’ve made in my career have helped me to live this moment to the full. It’s important to have convictions.
Luis Enrique “Hats off to my players for their confidence and generosity”.
It’s been a difficult start to the season in the Champions League, with a lack of efficiency. What details have given you confidence?
I’ve been delighted with the season from the outset. Everything we wanted to improve has been done. There were doubts about players who are now stars of the team. We stuck to our guns. We played some very high-level games, but lost them, like Atlético and Liverpool.
The breakthrough came with a talk on efficiency, which didn’t correspond to our level. But we told them not to worry, that we were going to work on it. We also unlocked it with the generosity of the players, in a better position. We’ve achieved some of the best statistics in Europe. We saw the same version in January, but with greater efficiency. Hats off to my players for their confidence and generosity, and to the fans for their support.
Hernandez back in the French squad? What work is being done to help the players physically?
I’m delighted. He’s always been a top-class player, helping the team with his mentality and his capacity for hard work. He’s always ready. Whether he’s playing in the middle or on the flanks. His behavior is exemplary, and he’s always ready to play.
As for his physical freshness, that comes from managing his playing time over the course of each match. We wanted to be in a position to win trophies, so it’s worth looking at what we’re doing now. We’re thinking about the whole squad.
Luis Enrique “I’m very proud, very happy that we’re not dependent on one or a few players.”
There are 18 players who have scored this season, what’s your feeling?
We’ve scored more goals than last season, and I don’t think anyone thought we would. We’ve scored, but there are also assists. The passer is just as important as the goalscorer. And our numbers are exceptional. You need to have a real team feeling, and for the players to always want to serve the player in the best position. But that’s not easy. A lot of players have scored and made passes. I’m very proud, very happy that we don’t depend on one or a few players. There are always absentees. We have the advantage of always being ready as a team.
How has Mbappé’s departure helped you create a real team?
We were a real team last year too. I said last year that we were a team, but also that we could improve. That’s what’s happened, with new players arriving. But let’s not forget the titles and the LDC semi-final last year.
Luis Enrique “This is one of the best Champions League finals in recent years.”
Inter Milan are playing with 2 strikers, what does that change for you?
Obviously, we know the teams’ profiles. We know their players. But they’re the only ones who play as a team. They know how to combine and play in a very direct way. They’re like us in the way they enjoy having the ball. The central players are also capable of showing off. That’s just like us. Also, no matter who’s absent, there’s always the same idea and the same problems.
This is a team built by a great coach, who played in the final 2 years ago. They knocked out Bayern and Barça, so they’re a tough team to play against. And so are we. They have great qualities. It’s one of the best Champions League finals in recent years. We’ll be up to the task.
