Luis Enrique, coach of Paris Saint-Germain, stopped by the press conference after the 3-1 victory over Olympique de Marseille (video highlights PSG/OM) on Sunday at the Parc des Princes as part of Matchday 26 of Ligue 1 2024-2025.
Enrique “It’s a physical league, with some very good players”
Is it a perfect week for PSG?
“I think we’ve had some very good moments this season, right from the start. It’s true that in the first Champions League games we didn’t have the realism we have today. The statistics say that this has been a truly exceptional season in terms of consistency. Today we have a 19-point lead over the second-placed team.
Some people say it’s easy, but it’s not, and some of our rivals confirm it. It’s a physical championship, with very good players, and we’ve seen that the French teams have confirmed this this season at European level.”
Do you hope Luis Campos will extend his contract so that you can continue in this direction?
“Without a doubt. I joined this project with Luis Campos and he’s the person who convinced me to come, with whom I negotiated. I started this project with him. So, obviously, I’d like to continue working with Luis Campos.”
Enrique “We’re competitive in all competitions”.
What could stop this team still committed to all the tables?
“If we’re talking about competitions, I’d like the Champions League to be based on consistency, but that’s not the case. There are two games against Aston Villa and one of the two teams is going to be eliminated. We play every game with the same intensity and I think that’s our strength.
We’re competitive in all competitions. But both the Cup and the Champions League are short competitions where you can go out at any time, as was the case last year against Dortmund.”
The team seems more disciplined in its match management. Is this the collective you dreamed of when you arrived at PSG?
“No, I don’t dream of that sort of thing. I just want to improve my team and help my players progress. I think we’ve already seen that last season, we’re a real team with common goals and when the common goal is everyone’s goal that’s the most important thing.”
You called for respect for the players, how did you feel when you heard the chants against Rabiot?
“I’m not concentrating on listening to what’s being sung, I can’t understand everything yet so I can’t comment. I can listen and recognize the chants but I’m focused on my work. Now I know this atmosphere of the classicos.”
Enrique “We want to make history, we have to do it with money, a footballing idea and a project.”
De Zerbi was saying that this match could no longer be called a classico because of the differences between the two teams, do you lament the fact that you don’t have a rival on your level in Ligue 1?
“It’s not what I want or don’t want, it’s the French championship that’s like that. We’re 19 points ahead because my team has been better, but I’ve also seen French teams be competitive in Europe. Lille and Brest have come up against top teams and put in some excellent performances.
I don’t understand this habit of denigrating French teams. I know that we’re very good and that we could be competitive in any league, and we’ve shown that against other European teams. You want to make history, but you have to do it with money, a footballing idea and a project. Some people take a dim view of that, but that’s what we want to achieve: to be the best team in the world or in Europe.”
