On Friday, aspart of Matchday 12 of Ligue 1 2024-2025, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) will take on Toulouse (10th) at the Parc des Princes (kick-off 9pm, broadcast on DAZN). On the eve of the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique answered a number of questions at a press conference.
Luis Enrique “We still need to fine-tune”.
What does Campus PSG mean to you? How does it fit in with your objectives?
It represents everything a coach could want, in terms of equipment and conditions. It has everything you need to work and prepare optimally. There are few centers as functional as this.
Will Gonçalo Ramos be ready to play on Monday? And be a starter?
I said the 25th and that’s in a few days’ time, yes (smiles). He’s in the final phase. I don’t know exactly when he’ll be ready. We’ll see in training. We still need to fine-tune things, like with Lucas Hernandez and Presnel Kimpembe. They’re still in the process.
Any rotation tomorrow after the break and before the LDC?
This day, after the break, is always special. We have to take into account not only the match against Toulouse, but also the minutes played during the break. With that in mind, we’ll be able to make the right decisions to win against Toulouse, which is our main objective.
Luis Enrique “if a player shows things I like in training he can change his situation.”
Nuno Mendes ready for Bayern? Is it a serious injury?
No, it’s not serious. I don’t know if he’ll be ready against Bayern.
Does Skriniar meet your needs in defense? Is he frustrated by playing less?
That’s the normal process in a professional soccer team. If you play a lot, you’re happy, if you play less you’re less happy and if you don’t play at all, you’re 0 happy. In my opinion, if a player shows things I like in training, he can change his situation.
How are you getting on with the break?
These are quiet weeks. There are hardly any players, so there are individualized sessions.
Are you counting on Ramos to impose himself as a 9?
I’m counting on all the players in my squad.
Luis Enrique “he first message is to reconnect with the club, to be ready for the games ahead.”
When you’re back with the internationals, is the fact of having played with other tactics enriching or disturbing?
It’s difficult. I’m very lucky, I was also a coach. I know how long it takes to get an idea across. It’s very difficult. You have to be very good to convey an idea.
Our only concern as coaches is fatigue between games and travel. The first message is to reconnect with the club, to be ready for the games ahead.
Knowing how to adapt to the coach is part of being a player. A very good player should be able to play with any coach.
Luis Enrique “We need a high level of competition, even if some players are playing less than they’d like.”
What’s your priority at the moment?
Everything in general. My obsession is to attack and get the ball. But at the same time, you have to get players to learn how to defend and how to do it as a team. You have to work on every situation in the game. You have to improve everything.
Lee is the symbol of what you like in a player, with his versatility. But which position do you prefer him in?
I’ve told you from the outset that what I like most in the squad is versatility. I want players who can play in different positions, so that it’s hard for the opposition to know. So we need players with this profile in our project.
I hope we’ll soon have 2 very good players in each position. We need a high level of competition, even if some players play less than they’d like.
Luis Enrique “That’s why we recruited these players.”
Dembélé ready to play?
It was nothing serious, just a little problem. It’s normal in a tight schedule for that to happen. But he should be available.
How do you see the possible arrival of a new elite club in Paris?
It’s fascinating. If it’s in Paris, we have one less trip. And it’s good promotion for our sport. I’m delighted.
You can play without a real number 9, but what can a real number 9 like Ramos do for you?
Like Kolo Muani, he’s a finisher. They’re both very good defensive players, especially Ramos. That’s why we recruited these players.
Ligue 1 has imported foreign coaches. Is it good for French soccer to bring in other ideas?
I don’t really have an opinion on that. Everyone can choose. There are some very good coaches in every country, with different varieties.
Luis Enrique “It’s an investment for the future”.
Doué played mainly in midfield at Rennes, but now he’s more of an attacking player with you. Can he play in midfield with you?
Without a doubt. Désiré Doué is only 19 years old. He was spectacular at Rennes, and he helps us in different positions. Perhaps his ideal position is in midfield.
But I want to awaken in him the idea of playing more offensively, of being versatile. He had several positions at Rennes, and it’s good for a player to know how to play in different positions. It’s an investment for the future.
We’d like everything to go faster, but it’s a process, a path. He plays a lot of minutes, even if he’d like to play more. He’s a player for the present and the future. He can play in the middle.
Luis Enrique “It has to be by example, not words.”
Hakimi is in contention for the title of best African player. Where would you place him in the world hierarchy in his position? How important is he in the dressing room?
I can’t place him, I’m not interested. He’s at a very high level. Our philosophy adapts very well to him. But he was very strong at Inter.
He’s gaining weight in the dressing room, he’s got a great personality. He’s also important to the national team. It’s always good when there are positive leaders. It’s wonderful. It has to be by example, not by words.
Is Hakimi physically difficult to handle? He’s very strong physically, but he could play too much.
Yes, there’s a risk. He’s an international, so we try to give him a rest. He has spectacular physical capabilities. But I’m taking into account his minutes with the national team.
Luis Enrique “We’ll have to be at a good level, otherwise they’ll cause us problems.”
What are your thoughts on the Toulouse team?
It’s a bit of a similar situation from one opponent to the next, they’re often in a good period. Last year, we came up against Carles Martinez, and it’s hard to get hold of the ball.
They beat us at the Parc last year in a special match. That was after the title. I hope we win this time. We’ll have to play at a good level, otherwise they’ll cause us problems.
