This Wednesday at 6 p.m. (CET), Paris Saint-Germain faces Flamengo at the Ahmad-ben-Ali Al Rayyan Stadium in Doha, Qatar, in the final of the 2025 Intercontinental Cup. In an interview with Le Parisien, Saul Niguez, the 31-year-old midfielder for the Brazilian club, who came up through the ranks at Atlético Madrid (427 professional appearances), shared his thoughts on the Parisian team and its coach, Luis Enrique, whose underdog role suits his club perfectly.
Niguez described him as “a leader on the bench, a coach with a very strong personality, who imposes his style and understands football like few others.”
“What do you think of PSG?”
“PSG had an exceptional run in the Champions League. The final was a spectacle.” They have very high-quality players in every position, a very solid squad, and above all, a leader on the bench, a coach with a very strong personality, who imposes his style and understands football like few others.
Are you impressed?
What he has achieved is spectacular; there’s no other way to describe it. Luis Enrique has a strong personality; he says things directly, exactly as he thinks them. Luis Enrique’s authenticity and coaching style are good for football. This ‘madness’ is part of his aura and helps him achieve great things.
Niguez: “PSG is a little weaker than last season”
PSG’s current level?
I think PSG is a little weaker than last season, when the team was close to perfection. (…) Donnarumma’s absence is being felt. PSG is still trying to regain the consistency they had a few months ago. To trouble PSG, we need to achieve a lot, because the team’s defensive level is remarkable.
Does it bother you that PSG is seen as the favorite?
I think everything that makes PSG the overwhelming favorite works to our advantage. This underdog role suits us perfectly. They have the need to win; the obligation is on them, because they are the best. I think the final will be very close. Anything can happen in a single match.
Luis Enrique will appreciate such high praise from a player he encountered when he was coach of FC Barcelona and who clearly still admires him. And, today, for what he has built at PSG. It must be said that PSG’s run last season commands respect. In particular, a completely controlled and spectacular Champions League final.
The challenge now is to maintain this momentum, with high expectations and very little rest. The task is difficult, and at the moment, Paris isn’t showing the same strength as at the end of last season. This can easily be attributed to Niguez. However, it’s quite logical, and the Parisians are mainly managing to overcome obstacles to be well-placed in all competitions.
There has even been an improvement in their play, which they will need to confirm tonight against a strong Flamengo team. PSG arrives as favorites, but this hasn’t translated into results on the pitch. They have to earn the victory. Niguez and his teammates will be under less pressure, but they have a strong desire to make history and the qualities to use to achieve it. The Parisians must approach this match with maximum desire and focus to further cement their place in history.
