Paris Saint-Germain won 2-1 against Le Havre (video highlights PSG/Le Havre) this Saturday at the Parc des Princes on Matchday 30 of Ligue 1 2024-2025. After the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique spoke at a press conference.
Enrique “I’d like to congratulate my players, several of whom played in different positions”.
“It was a difficult match, as it always is after the Champions League, which takes a huge amount of energy out of you. Preparing for this match against a team in need of points, and us having just been champions, brought together a lot of ingredients for a bad result. But in the end, the opposite was true.
I’d like to congratulate my players, several of whom played in different positions. We played at a very high level, with and without the ball, which enabled us to win the match.”
Enrique: “Every player must make the most of every minute of playing time”.
The next games are against Nantes and Nice, before the Champions League first leg against Arsenal, how do you maintain a high level of play between now and then ?
“It’s obvious that it’s a global objective to want to fight to win all the trophies. That means that Ligue 1 and the French Cup are objectives that can also help us prepare for Champions League matches.
Every player must make the most of every minute of playing time, whatever the competition, to help the team as much as possible. That means being generous, putting the team’s game before your own personal interests. And I think everyone has already proved that it’s the team before personal performance.”
Senny Mayulu and Ibrahim Mbaye were in the starting line-up, what did you think of their performance?
“I really liked both of them. Senny has more first-team experience and he’s a player who’s fully integrated into the PSG dynamic, and I’m very pleased with that. He’s proved to me that he can play in other positions and perform at a very high level. He’s very good physically, technically and mentally. As for Senny, I congratulate him on this match.
And it’s the same for Ibrahim, who had fewer opportunities at the age of 17, but who has a very good rhythm with and without the ball, has a lot of qualities and is very intelligent. I love it when he trains with us and he’s always ready to help us. He really seized the opportunity today.”
Enrique “Every player must be ready to help the team, whatever the circumstances.”
What did you think of the performance of the players who don’t usually play much ?
“Given the goals we have in mind, it’s obvious that we need every player. We can’t have the same players playing every game. For a team aiming for victory and success, it necessarily needs to have all its players ready, all the time.
Because you don’t know which players are going to be in the French Cup final. And it’s the same in the Champions League. Every player has to be ready to help the team, whatever the circumstances.”
What aspects of the performance were you most satisfied with this evening ?
“It was a trick game, clearly, because we were playing a bottom-of-the-table team, which means their motivation was higher. We can continue to improve our stats, but we’re already champions.
What I liked most was the ability of the players to play in different positions throughout the match. The fact that they played well throughout the match. Désiré played well everywhere. The wingers played well everywhere. The mentality was good. It made the game less of a trap. Warren sacrificed himself for the team.”
Enrique “Writing history, that’s what we’re looking for, what motivates us.”
What are the aspects to conclude this season positively ?
“There isn’t just one aspect to work on. There are things assimilated after this second season and we’re not working on one specific thing. All the players know the idea behind each game.
Only one club will win the Champions League. For the other three, it won’t be a failure. Only one club will win the Coupe de France. There will be 32 clubs starting the Club World Cup…
Making history is what we’re looking for, what motivates us as a team, and what motivates our fans too. I hope we can fight for all the trophies.”
