On Saturday, during Matchday 13 of the 2025-2026 Ligue 1 season, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) will face Le Havre (12th) at the Parc des Princes (kick-off at 9:05 PM, CET). On the eve of this match, PSG coach Luis Enrique answered several questions at a press conference.
Luis Enrique: “We have to wait for today’s training session to know exactly who will be playing tomorrow.”
Is this the upcoming block of matches you’ve been targeting for a while? Is it a challenge?
We’re going to play eight matches, starting with the Coupe de France. There’s also the Intercontinental Cup. It’s a period of matches, as usual. There are two more than between previous breaks, but we’ll always aim to improve.
An update on the squad and injuries after the break?
I don’t know. Yesterday, we trained with 6 players and 3 goalkeepers. We’ll train again this afternoon. All the players are back in Paris, but we have to wait for today’s training session to know exactly who will be playing tomorrow.
Luis Enrique: “It’s nice to see their level, but individualizing them too much isn’t positive.”
Could Marquinhos play his 500th match for PSG? He’s been criticized for some mistakes, but is he still indispensable in your eyes?
If a player has been able to play 499 matches, he has to accept criticism. It’s part of top-level football. His quality as a defender and with the ball is top-notch. We need to talk to him today to know how he’s feeling, how he’s approaching the upcoming matches.
Ruiz, Neves, and Vitinha are excellent right now for PSG and Portugal. Is this their best moment at PSG?
I don’t know. I’m not interested in that kind of debate. I’m looking to improve the whole team, not just three players. There are many midfielders who can play, like Zaïre-Emery, Mayulu, Ndjantou, Doué… I’m looking to improve all the players. It’s nice to see their level, but too much individualization isn’t positive.
Luis Enrique: “I think he’ll be able to do part of today’s training session.”
How does it go during sessions with fewer players?
Normally, during the international break, there can be work at home. But there’s also work with the ball, and physical conditioning if needed. We can’t work on tactics. Yesterday’s session was very different. I like having the whole squad.
Could Dembélé play tomorrow? Do we have to wait?
I don’t know. I’m not a doctor. But he’s improving. I think he’ll be able to do part of today’s training session. In that case, we have to be careful. When I see how he feels in training, I’ll see if it’s time to put him back on the pitch.
Luis Enrique: “It’s my job to make sure everyone understands that getting three points is important and that it will be difficult.”
Digard said he wasn’t going to focus on defending even though they’re struggling?
Le Havre isn’t struggling; they’re 12th. It was very difficult last year. We won the title after that match. Tomorrow will be the first match after the break. It’s a bit different; it’s easy for the players to be a little less focused. It’s my job to make sure everyone understands that getting three points is important and that it will be difficult.
A draw against Lorient and some close wins—is this the time to create some breathing room? Is winning the most important thing?
For me, given the situation, I think a win is already enough. I hope that by getting back together with the squad, we’ll be able to show our qualities. The skill level is there, but you need the players.
Luis Enrique: “What we want is very difficult. We have to be ready and focused.”
Where does Neves stand on the world stage? How important is he?
I don’t know, as usual. If I have to rank him, the next question will be about Fabian Ruiz, then Zaire-Emery, then Mayulu. And I have problems. I’m very happy to have these players. They are special, different.
But I’m a little concerned because I hear a lot of noise about the team and individual awards. It’s a team sport! You have to be ready to work as a team. I’m not interested in individual awards.
It’s a slightly different season. There’s a lot of recognition, which is nice. But I’m a little concerned. I don’t want to talk about the past, but rather the future. We need fewer awards and more focus on what we want. What we want is very difficult. We have to be ready and focused.
Have you been working on set pieces? What have you changed?
We’ve changed a lot of things; we’re improving both defensively and offensively. We can win matches from these plays. There’s room for improvement, we need to keep improving.
Luis Enrique: “We keep changing, otherwise the opponent will adapt.”
Do you ask your players to aim for the throw-in at kickoff, or is that your idea?
There’s nothing special about it. If I had to explain why we do it, everyone would know. There are different ways to play the first ball. There’s a different feeling when we do it.
It goes hand in hand with how we apply pressure. If we concede a goal, it’s a difficult moment, and we have to know how to handle it. I saw it at Olympique Lyonnais, and I copied it. And we keep changing, otherwise the opponent will adapt. That’s the normal evolution of a top-level team.
Which coach inspires you? Do you read books?
In my first year, I learned from the coaches I had. I studied the way I prefer to play. There are also the experiences I’ve had to try and improve. I am very happy with what I have achieved, and even more so with the progress I have made.
Luis Enrique: “I can’t be much more demanding, because I already give my all for every player.”
What’s your take on Mbaye’s performance with Senegal? Will you be more demanding?
I can’t be much more demanding, because I already give my all for every player. There’s no change. Ibrahim Mbaye is a homegrown talent, we’re happy to have his qualities. There’s no status. I’m going to ask the same things of him. He scored a nice goal, I’m happy. But nothing changes. We have to keep going like this. He’s a very young player, we have a lot of confidence in him for the future.
When did you first think about being in the stands? Did rugby inspire you?
I don’t know much about it, but I like the sport because it’s different and I like the way they manage their emotions and all that energy. I remember the first time I saw training from above was at Celta Vigo. I was thrilled.
Since then, I’ve found it important to be up there. It allows me to see all the players. If there’s anything I can do to improve my performance, I try to do it.
