Paris Saint-Germain beat Stade Briochin 0-7 (video highlights Stade Briochin/PSG) this Wednesday at Roazhon Park in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France 2024-2025. After the match, Paris coach Luis Enrique spoke at a press conference. The Spaniard spoke of the win and his team’s momentum.
Enrique “We’ve achieved our goal of reaching the semi-finals”.
What did you appreciate about your players’ performance on Wednesday? Efficiency, seriousness or energy?
“I liked everything, I agree with what you said. First of all, I’d like to congratulate our opponents, Stade Briochin, because I think they’ve done very well by eliminating two Ligue 1 clubs. We mustn’t forget that. We played at a very good level, and if we’d played at a lower level, we’d have had problems. But we played at the level we’d hoped for.
We were able to give some players a rest and others more playing time. We can manage the load of minutes for the following matches, and that’s important. We’ve achieved our goal of qualifying for the semi-finals, and I think we’ve done brilliantly.
Warren Zaïre-Emery was able to play, can he be at 100% against Liverpool next week?
“À 100 % ? I hope so! He’s a player who’s just come back from injury, and he’s very important for us. Tonight he was able to play 25-30 minutes and that’s important for his physical level, but to be at 100% is very difficult.”
Enrique: “The pace we set with the ball wears down our opponents”.
Was composure the key to victory on Wednesday?
“I think the key was the condition of the pitch, which had a positive influence on the way we played. Stade Briochin defended very well, but we moved the ball well. They were fresh in the first half, but we were able to direct the ball to our wingers, notably Kvara and Doué. That’s what enabled us to create a numerical superiority.
Also, the pace we set with the ball wears down our opponents. There were those two goals in the first half, and the second half was very complicated for them. Running after the ball all the time is tiring. We were very good in that respect. If the ball had been slower, it would have been a more complicated match for us.”
Enrique “I see a team that’s enjoying itself, having fun, whatever the opponent.”
Isn’t the succession of matches too difficult to manage?
“On the one hand, the calendar is busy, that’s for sure. But it’s busy because we’re in all the competitions, and that’s the most important thing. I see a team that enjoys itself, that takes pleasure in playing, whatever the opponent. That’s a huge pillar of my philosophy, this idea of enjoying and having fun. That’s often how things work out best.
Enrique “I liked what I saw before Christmas”.
How will you manage your squad between the game against Lille and the Champions League match against Liverpool?
“Honestly, we don’t really know yet. The players are ready for all the competitions. We’ve managed this load of playing time, we can be competitive everywhere but we have to arrive with the right playing time and that’s not always easy with the number of games played. It’s almost impossible to be in perfect conditions. Sometimes there are injuries too.
But with what I’ve seen since the break… I liked what I saw before Christmas, but what I’ve seen over the last two months is even better. It gives a very complete picture of this team, which I think is very good. I really like what I see.
Ramos proved you right with his hat-trick?
“Amen. Thank you very much.”
