Paris Saint-Germain drew 1-1 with Reims (video highlights PSG/Reims) this Saturday at the Parc des Princes on Matchday 19 of Ligue 1 2024-2025. After the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique spoke at a press conference. The Spaniard discussed the debut of 22-year-old striker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, as well as the team’s overall performance.
Enrique “When he touches the ball you can feel he’s got something special”
“He played the first half after only four training sessions with his new team, of course it’s difficult, but he played well. When he touches the ball you can feel he’s got something special. It’s his first game in a long series with the club. It’s true that he started the second half very well, delivering a pass for Ousmane Dembélé, so that’s very positive.”
Enrique: “As a coach, we try to put all these different pieces together”.
Kvaratskhelia tried a lot of dribbling, are you going to ask him to try that every game?
“We’re a team that wants to hold the ball a lot more than the opposition, and through this mobility, each individuality generates superiority. Kvaratskhelia is one of those players, as are several others in the team, and we have a lot of chances at this level.
As a coach, we’re trying to put these different pieces together and find the best way to work together. And what I can see with my forwards is that they can play in all positions, which is very positive. And a huge benefit for the team.”
Enrique “In this part of the season you have to be at your physical best”.
With the succession of matches, how are the players doing physically?
“Just like every year. My team has a very high physical level and plays with intensity. You can see that with the number of sprints in each game and the way we approach these matches. In this part of the season you have to be at your physical best and avoid alternating between highs and lows.
I’m not worried. Of course the schedule is intense and that’s what we’re looking for. Now we have to concentrate on the Champions League to confirm our place in the next round. That’s our objective now.”
Enrique “I don’t want to give our rivals any clues about my future choices.”
You’ve chosen to rest players like Hakimi and Marquinhos, is this in anticipation of the match against Stuttgart?
“It’s like with Ousmane Dembélé on the forward plan. When you said he was 100% ready to play when he wasn’t. I don’t want to give our rivals the wrong idea. I don’t want to give our rivals any clues about my future choices. We face Stuttgart next and I think everyone is ready, including Marquinhos and Achraf Hakimi.”
Kvaratskhelia started on the left, then refocused later. Is this a sign of the tactical treatment you’re going to give him?
“The plan is the same for everyone. I give opportunities based on performance. Kvaratskhelia seems really interesting for us and we want to see how he performs from now on. He’s only just arrived.
I’m used to moving players who are in their best form without looking at their name or nationality. That’s my job as a coach. And I like it when my players enjoy playing and have ambition. Anyone can play in any position. It’s up to them.
Enrique “the coach’s theory is often easier than the reality on the pitch.”
You were talking about the lack of efficiency tonight, are you disappointed with Gonçalo Ramos’ performance?
“The players are the only ones who are really interested in scoring goals. It’s true that we created a lot of chances tonight and it would have changed the game if we’d been more realistic. But I have nothing to say about my players who tried everything.”
We had the feeling that there was a touch too much in this match. Is that what we need to erase before Stuttgart?
“I think it’s a scenario that happens a lot, especially in our case. Our opponents have 11 players behind the ball. They’re strong and very good defensively. So it’s difficult to find space. So it’s possible that we lacked fluidity in our passing.
When you play a team as defensive as Reims, it’s important to have movement. Our weapon is to pass the ball around. Too much? No. Only as much as you need, but finding just the right balance is difficult.
But as I say, in a match like today, movement without the ball is more important than one-on-one. But the coach’s theory is often easier than the reality on the pitch.”
