On Saturday, as part of Matchday 13 of Ligue 1 2024-2025, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) take on Nantes (16th) at the Parc des Princes (kick-off 9pm, broadcast on DAZN in France). On the eve of the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique answered a number of questions at a press conference.
Luis Enrique “what makes you think the level isn’t good enough?”
Is Ligue 1 enough to prepare for the Champions League?
Without a doubt. So what makes you think the level isn’t good enough? Look at the standings of Brest, Lille and Monaco. For a while now, everything around us has been negative. I’m trying to bring in the positive.
We know that tomorrow against Nantes, we have to repeat the behaviour we want to see in the Champions League. I see these things. Of course, we still have room for improvement.
Are you on schedule with your project?
I feel very confident. The Champions League ranking is undeserved, we should have at least 9 points I think. I’m not hiding behind that, the ranking shows the scores.
There are positives, even in Munich, even if it wasn’t enough. There are positives, even with 10. We can improve in all areas. But I’m not pessimistic, I’m very optimistic.
Luis Enrique: “Above all, we have to think about what we have to do.
Are the disappointments in the LDC affecting morale? How can we maintain a positive momentum?
Of course. I don’t watch it, but it affects the players. They’re only human. But above all, we have to think about what we have to do.
The situation is similar to last year, but our performances are better. And we were in the semi-finals, one of the top 4 teams. Who can say today whether we can do it or not?
One of the keys is patience, and some fans are willing to wait. What can you say to those who don’t trust you?
I’ve got nothing to say. We have some of the best fans around. They’re spectacular and have never had a negative influence on us. It’s hard to blow the whistle when our players give their all on the pitch.
The day they don’t give their all, they’re out. That’s the way it’s going to be. I can only thank the fans for their support.
Luis Enrique “It will depend on what I consider appropriate.”
What does Ramos, a true 9, have to offer that’s different from a false 9?
They’re different situations in the game. Depending on what the opponent is doing, it’s very different. There’s no magic solution. It depends on the players’ state of fitness and on the game situation. It depends on what I consider appropriate.
You say you always want your team to have the ball and attack, but you adapt to your opponents. Is that contradictory?
No. You want to win on the pitch against Bayern, a title favorite. We played, but there were changes. We made things difficult for them. I’ve never seen any team trouble them as much as we did.
You judge me on results, that’s how it is. I know that. We went to Munich to win, but after that there’s an opponent who might be better or more successful.
Luis Enrique “All the matches give information to the coaches. It’s important when it comes to making choices.”
What’s your cold analysis of the match? What went wrong?
I’ll say it again; you insist, but after analysis I think my team put on a good show, we were able to embarrass them. We could have made a better start against the pressing. But we had 2 good situations, or even 3. They also had clear chances. But we took the goal.
In the second half, we tried to improve things, but with 1 more player, our opponents dominated. But we still managed to do some good things. The result influences opinions, but I’m satisfied with what I saw. All matches provide information for the coaches. That’s important when it comes to making choices.
Luis Enrique “I’m responsible for my players, but in the dressing room, not in public.”
What stage of the project are you at? When do you take responsibility for the players, when you currently take responsibility for the wins and losses?
To be clear, I take responsibility for the defeats. The victories are the players’. I know that the most difficult thing is what the players do. But when we lose, I know that my choices are important.
We know how things work. I hold my players accountable, but in the dressing room, not in public. I make them accountable to themselves. That wouldn’t make sense here. They have a great deal of responsibility.
My decisions are my responsibility. But everything is based on different things, between performances, behavior, you have to represent PSG well. Not everyone can play here, it’s not just about technical or physical qualities.
I don’t know what stage I’m at exactly, I don’t know. I do know that this is the start of the second season and that’s the most important thing. It could be 3, 4 or 7 years, I don’t know. I’m here to ensure that the team has an identity, that the players are proud even when we have to lose.
Luis Enrique “The most important thing is that it’s useful.”
How important is technology, artificial intelligence? Can it replace the staff?
PSG already has it, that’s the difference then is whether we make it public or not. We have data on a lot of things. It’s a process.
It’s a process. The staff and management really like all that. We try to see how players behave at other clubs too. After that, it doesn’t have to be public. The most important thing is that it’s useful. That’s what we’re working for.
How do you analyse Mbappé’s difficulties at Real Madrid?
Nice try. I never talk about players who don’t wear the PSG jersey.
Can you explain the information that the match against Bayern provides?
I could, but that would break the pact with the players. It would be washing dirty laundry in public. I receive information from my players, but after that I have my objectives, those of the club. There’s no room for negotiation. That’s quite clear. You have to wait for the time to pass before you can have my choices.
Luis Enrique “It’s not perfect, but I prefer these possibilities in the face of a season that’s long.”
How are you preparing for versatility?
We’ve recruited a number of players for this purpose at the start of the season. It adds a lot. It’s very positive to have players who can play in several positions. If you only have one position, you can quickly get stuck. Versatility will be one of the characteristics of the squad. It’s not perfect, but I prefer these possibilities in the face of a long season.
If you have a final with some players absent in a squad where the players only have one position, who do you line up with? It’s interesting to have players for several positives.
Luis Enrique “I never talk about systems. I talk about the spaces we need to occupy and how.”
Any possible schema changes?
System definitions are mechanisms we have to identify something. But we’re working on occupying spaces, both offensively and defensively. We’re adapting to get the ball up high and use it to best effect.
We position ourselves in relation to the ball, and that changes a lot. I never talk about systems. I talk about the spaces we need to occupy and how. Sometimes it’s more freedom.
All the players work on this in training and it makes things flow. These qualities mean that opponents never know how to mark our players.
This season, we have more chances and we score more, except in the Champions League. And we score less. That’s the way I play.
Luis Enrique “I hope we’ll have an intense face and show that we want points.”
What match against Nantes?
After analyzing Nantes, we see that they have fewer points than they deserve. We’ve seen what they can create, but with the defeats the state of mind can be complicated. Last year, they caused problems. This time, they have nothing to lose by coming to our place.
It’s going to be a tough game. We need to keep winning and get into good habits for the Champions League. I hope we’ll put on an intense performance and show that we want points.
Luis Enrique “With everything surrounding us, it’s logical that there will be more doubts in the Champions League.”
A challenge to pass on your confidence and optimism to the squad?
Of course I’m confident, because I haven’t missed a pass this season. Did I make a mistake? Probably, but you have to decide after the game.
Except that it’s hard to say when it’s raining that you should take an umbrella. I don’t mind taking risks. The players can be more or less confident. With everything that’s going on around us, it’s logical that there should be more doubts in the Champions League.
My message is positive, but of course we have to work hard. There won’t be a minute in the games to come without ambition or the intention of being better.
