Paris Saint-Germain lost 1-3 to Nice (video highlights PSG/Nice) this Friday at the Parc des Princes as part of the 31st day of Ligue 1 2024-2025. After the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique spoke at a press conference. He remained very positive despite the result.
Enrique “we richly deserve a positive result.”
“Football is like that, we have to accept it and congratulate Nice. But I must also congratulate my team, because we played a very good game with a first half in which we richly deserved a positive result.
And a second half where we took a goal very quickly, which was surprising. We can no longer beat that unbeaten record, but that doesn’t change our objectives in the Champions League and the French Cup final.”
Enrique “I can guarantee them that we’re going to fight in every match from the first to the last minute”
At the end you asked for more support from the fans, does that mean you’re not worried about Tuesday’s game despite what you’ve seen tonight?
“What I saw, I’m signing up for Tuesday in London and for the second leg. What I saw on the pitch today was a team that created 30 goal-scoring chances, and that’s what I’m signing up for.
When you have a team that doesn’t wait and plays, that plays high, that never stops pressing and running, you can’t be worried. After that, if the keeper makes some incredible saves, that’s part of soccer and you have to accept it.
And when you have fans like those of PSG, who haven’t stopped singing despite the 3-1 scoreline, I can’t guarantee titles or success, but I can guarantee that we’re going to fight every match from the first to the last minute.
Now we’re going to rest and prepare for this semi-final. We’re by far the best team in France, as we’ve shown all year. Now we’re staying true to who we are, to what we’re aiming for, and we’re going to do everything we can to win this semi-final.”
Enrique “Football doesn’t count chances, it counts goals.”
Do you think heads can be touched in your players or not at all?
“Right now the players are touched, yes, because they didn’t deserve to lose. We deserved to win that game, without a doubt. But it’s obvious that if the rival gets 100% realism and you’re not in your usual realism, the game changes.
It’s complicated, but that’s soccer. Once again, congratulations to your rivals. Soccer doesn’t count chances, it counts goals.”
You’ve pretty much lined up your standard team, why did you make this choice?
“You can draw whatever conclusions you like, but I’m not going to give Mr. Arteta any pointers. That’s your job, but I don’t confirm leads. I’ll field the team I think is best. I’m very happy with my players’ performance. It wasn’t our day, but I congratulate my players and my team.”