On Thursday, during the 2025 Trophée des Champions, Paris Saint-Germain will face Olympique de Marseille at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait (kick-off at 7 p.m. French time, CET). On the eve of this match, PSG coach Luis Enrique answered several questions at a press conference.
Luis Enrique: “We want to dominate the match.”
A big challenge to keep winning?
We know how difficult it is to keep winning trophies, but that’s also a motivation. This is an important match for us. It’s a final, a Classique. We know the importance of the match. We’re ready and motivated. Playing in a final is a motivation for us. We’re ready. We want to dominate the match; we need the ball to play well. With and without the ball, we want to be more efficient.
Luis Enrique: “We can see more or less the real PSG team.”
How do you choose the attack? Is it based on current form, the opponent, or something else?
It depends on many aspects. There’s the opponent, the players’ form, the playing time, all of that. Tomorrow, it will be a final. We rested during the Christmas holidays. Tomorrow, even with some players still unavailable, we can more or less see the true PSG team.
Doué said the group is still hungry, do you see that in the squad?
The most important thing to keep winning is to enjoy the work. When I see the team enjoying every training session, with the desire to play football, that’s what matters most. After that, every season has its ups and downs for every team and every player. I’m happy with what I’m seeing, and I hope to have the opportunity to win many more matches and trophies.
Luis Enrique: “You have to manage all the emotions well.”
A feeling of revenge tomorrow?
When you play against Marseille in a final, there’s no such thing as revenge. It’s a different competition. You have to manage all the emotions well. Every detail will be important in the match. It’s not about revenge, even though we know how important the match is.
Will Marseille be very high up the pitch or playing below it?
What I like about De Zerbi is his mentality. He builds his team to attack, and I like coaches like that. It will be difficult; they have a lot of quality players. There will be different phases to the match. We want to dominate, have the ball, and press as quickly as possible to win it back. That’s what I hope for. But we’ll prepare for all phases in order to face them.
Luis Enrique: “I hope there will be a lot of fans and that we’ll put on a great match.”
The Clásico often has a great atmosphere. It will be different, for a match that demands a lot of intensity. Will it be more difficult to get into the game?
I don’t think it will be difficult. Normally, with a match like this, everyone is highly motivated. That’s what we have to manage. It’s always a special match. Usually, there are only the fans of one team.
It’s different. We need to see this match as a different opportunity. It’s wonderful to see people from another country have the chance to experience this match. I hope there will be a lot of fans and that we’ll put on a great show.
Luis Enrique: “I have faith in my team; we’ll have to manage the different situations in a final.”
Are you prepared for a particularly intense match, like the one you faced in the Ligue 1 defeat?
I’ve analyzed the defeat. I think we played a very good match and didn’t deserve that result. That’s football. Playing away is always difficult. We’re used to this type of match. It’s important to know how to manage emotions and the context. We’re happy; we’re used to competition. I have faith in my team; we’ll have to manage the different situations in a final.
