Paris Saint-Germain drew 1-1 with PSV Eindhoven (video summary PSG/PSV Eindhoven) on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes as part of Matchday 3 of the Champions League 2024-2025 league phase. After the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique spoke at a press conference. The Spaniard spoke of his team’s lack of realism and the areas for improvement.
Enrique: “The result should have been in our favor tonight”.
How do you feel about the match?
“It’s difficult to accept the result of a game like this. But soccer is an unfair sport and I think we played a good game. Throughout the game we were better than PSV.”
Is there a lack of efficiency at PSG?
“It’s obvious that we created a lot more chances than our rivals, but we can’t manage to get decisive shots on target. As a coach, I try to demand the initiative in both attack and defence. The result should have been in our favor tonight. But soccer is fickle. We could even have lost the game.
After just 4 points from three games, do you feel that PSG are now under pressure?
“This is the toughest group and we have to be ready to improve on what we have to improve on. But yes it’s difficult and I’m concerned.”
Enrique “I told them to keep creating chances”
How can this lack of efficiency be remedied?
“PSG is undoubtedly one of the teams in Europe that creates the most chances in the league and in the Champions League. From there, including luck must be on your side to be able to finish, but our team has this characteristic of having a lot of chances.
It’s normal for all teams to have difficult moments. But we can improve, and that’s our aim. We spoke at half-time, and I told them to keep creating chances to get that goal, but unfortunately we only scored one goal.”
Can the presence of a pure number 9 in the team like Gonçalo Ramos solve this problem?
“As a coach, I do what I think is best for my team. When I give a player minutes, I rely on all the details, whether in defense or attack.
I’d have put the same team back together if we’d played that game again. And there’s a sort of halo of pessimism because of these results, but I’m calm and my team was much better than the opposition.”
Enrique: “We tried until the end for our fans”.
This is the second time you’ve positioned Kang In Lee as number 9, we don’t get the feeling he thrives in this position, do you still think he can be effective in this role?
“That’s how professional soccer is. You can’t have every player playing in their preferred position. They have to adapt to the needs of the team. When you sign for PSG, no player can say “I only play in this position”.
I repeat, I’m satisfied with the team’s performance, we tried right to the end for our supporters, who were there right to the end, we could have scored in the last minute but it wasn’t to be.”
Did you review the penalty kick and what do you think of it?
“I have nothing to say about anything to do with refereeing, I never give my opinion on it.”
Enrique “I accept full responsibility for the result”.
What did you think of Dembélé’s performance on his return to the eleven?
“I’m used to not talking about an individual player when the result isn’t a win. I accept full responsibility for the result. But I don’t talk about a particular player when we don’t win.”
Enrique: “I want my team to have the same number of chances on Sunday against Olympique de Marseille”.
PSG are one of the youngest teams around, so against their future opponents – Atlético Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City – can lack of experience have an impact?
“In that sense, I think differently. Of course, the age of our team is very young, but I want my team to have the same number of chances on Sunday against Olympique de Marseille and in the other games. But after that, I’m not really interested in the rest.”
A lot of corners were taken by two men. Is that a directive from you?
“We saw that in the second half. We decided to play our corners that way, and it was with the staff that we made that decision. And I think we created some chances thanks to that.”
