On Saturday, in the Round of 32 of the 2025-2026 Coupe de France, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) will face Vendée Fontenay (National 3, the fifth tier of French football) at the Stade de la Beaujoire (kick-off at 9 pm, CET). On the eve of this match, PSG coach Luis Enrique answered several questions at a press conference.
Luis Enrique: “This is the mentality we want at PSG.”
Safonov injured his hand, how did that happen?
I can’t explain it, it’s unbelievable. The player doesn’t know how it happened. We think it was on the third penalty kick. He has a fracture. I think he saved the last two penalties with the fracture. The adrenaline was so strong that he didn’t feel the pain.
What we’ve shown, again, all the players and especially Safonov, is the ability to help the team no matter the match. All the players have to be ready. That’s the mentality we want at PSG, for the current players and potential new signings. You have to be ready to work all the time.
Will Lucas Chevalier play? Or Renato Marin?
We’ll do as usual, I’ll inform the players first. You’ll see my decision afterward.
Luis Enrique: “It’s a key thing we want to pass on to the players.”
Six trophies in 2025, do you realize what you’ve accomplished?
I don’t think I should talk about what the team has achieved, because it’s clear. Everyone has seen it. The key is to enjoy every day, every moment. You have to enjoy training today, the match tomorrow. When you do things because you love to play and be professional, that’s the key to continuing in a positive way.
We still want to improve as a team. It’s a key thing we want to pass on to the players. After analyzing the final, it was very good. We defended at a very high level. We have the confidence, the mentality. We’re very happy to see the team perform at this level, given the circumstances we had to overcome.
Luis Enrique: “The Cup is wonderful.”
Do you enjoy playing in the Coupe de France?
Of course, the Cup is wonderful. She has the ability to play matches with different age groups. It’s wonderful. The final is one of the most exciting matches to play. We love this competition. I particularly love it. I hope to enjoy it tomorrow. We’re happy to be playing. We’re the reigning champions for the past two years, so it’s important to perform well.
How is Safonov doing mentally?
I haven’t spoken with him yet, but everyone easily accepts the positive, but nobody wants the negative. When there’s a negative, you can learn a lot. He played a very good match, every match he played. But life dictates that he needs to rest. We have to accept it. He’ll come back even more motivated. He has that mentality.
Luis Enrique: “We’ll see the players in the best possible condition. Some of the youth academy players will be there, of course.”
Have you learned anything from Brazilian football?
If I have to talk about the match against Botafogo, they did what most teams do against us: sit deep. That’s pretty typical for us. But Flamengo is a top club that has won everything this year, brilliantly. They play like us, with the desire to play high up the pitch. They’re a very strong team athletically, one of the best opponents we’ve played against.
Could some of the youth academy players move up to the squad tomorrow? Could Eddy Doué join the squad in 2026?
I’m not going to talk about each player individually. They know we’re paying attention, that they need to be ready. But there’s no pressure on them. We’ll see tomorrow. There’s a lot of fatigue, there are various issues. It’s normal; there are knocks, fatigue, things to manage. Today’s training session is missing. Tomorrow, we’re traveling again. Then, we’ll see the players in the best possible conditions. Some of the youth academy players will be there, of course.
Luis Enrique: “This shows a real team.”
How do you manage the competition? How do you push each player to give their all?
I don’t do anything. The players know that every minute in a PSG shirt is important. As staff, we pay close attention to that. Every training session too. You have to make the most of every moment. I like this mentality we have.
When a team is capable of winning many trophies in different competitions at different times, it shows a real team. The fans can be proud of the values, the fighting spirit, overcoming obstacles, playing good football. That’s the first thing to show.
Luis Enrique: “There’s nothing wrong with being young.”
Hakimi and Mbaye at the AFCON, what advice did you give them? Is Mbaye feeling the pressure as he prepares for his first international tournament?
If we look at the players’ ages and experience levels, we’re a very young team. Flamengo had more experienced players. But, as I’ve already said, there’s nothing wrong with being young. They have the technical ability. Our players will continue to develop. Mbaye already has the experience of last year, too.
It’s the same for all the young players. I’m happy that Mbaye is playing in the AFCON, so he can gain experience and improve even further. We’re also happy to have the Christmas holidays. It’s important to enjoy the work, but also to rest and spend time with loved ones.
