2023-08-25 14:27:08
This Saturday at 9 p.m., PSG receives Lens for its first real shock of the season. On its first two outings, Paris failed to beat Lorient at home (0-0), then Toulouse away (1-1). This time, Kylian Mbappé could well start his first game of the season as a starter. A reinforcement awaited by the public of the Park who finally awaits a success of the men of Luis Enrique. The Parisian coach was at a press conference this Friday at the Poissy Campus. The opportunity also to be questioned about the end of the transfer window and the still very uncertain future of Marco Verratti.
After Toulouse, you regretted the lack of control of your team. Do you think it was linked to the entries of players like Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé?
LUIS ENRIQUE. My analysis was not correct after Toulouse. I often say that these hot analyzes at the end of matches are sometimes incorrect and that was the case this time. I hadn’t had time to watch the game again. So I come back to what I said. Except for a few situations, I think we controlled the whole game. We had a lot of chances. I was wrong. We have to work on this adaptation of the players, find a balance according to the new entrants.
How do you work with Luis Campos and do you still expect recruits by the end of the transfer window?
I don’t usually talk about players who are not at the club. With Luis Campos, we work together every day. I am delighted with this meeting with him because for me he is one of the best in his sector. I learn a lot from him, we discuss all the players who could be options.
What happened around the choice of captaincy in recent days? What captain characteristics do you see in Marquinhos?
Regarding the vote, I think you know everything, it was made public. For me the result is very good, it’s perfect, it’s the players who decided. He was elected by these teammates. Marquinhos is a leader both on and off the pitch especially in relation to his character. I think he’s a player who when you see him, you want to imitate him. And that’s exactly what we want, a captain representing the team. So it’s their decision and not mine.
Since Neymar’s departure and with the absence of Marco Verratti, do you think your midfield lacks a creative element?
I think we have excellent players in the middle. I’m very happy with the options I have. We have a young workforce, but I see creativity, hard work and fantasy in all positions.
One week from the end of the transfer window, Marco Verratti is still a PSG player. In the event of non-departure, can his future take shape in your workforce? Would you like to work with him and see him play again?
I insist but he is already working with the rest of the team. He’s already in the squad. I had already told you that I used to keep private conversations secret, but I had also told you that you would see on the ground and in the facts what I thought. I insist on this but for me the work with Marco Verratti is wonderful both as a player and as a man in the dressing room. I give him 10/10 and I think he has excellent behavior.
You were a player before being a coach, what more can that bring you in the message you send to the players today?
I’ve been a player for a long time and I don’t even remember how I used to play. There are great coaches who have been players in the past, other great coaches who have not been players. I think what unites us all is this love of football. The qualities that are necessary are to be a leader, to have a good knowledge of football, to be empathetic, to know how to convince the players and I think that these characteristics you can find in someone who has been a player or who has not been a player.
Is this match against Lens already decisive for the rest of the season?
Lens did not start their season very well either (Editor’s note: 2 draws). It’s one of the best teams in Ligue 1, I really like their way of playing, of attacking. I have great respect for their coach (Franck Haise). It will be a pivotal match, against a team that sets the pace and is used to creating chances. I hope we will be entitled to this first victory, in front of our supporters, but it will be difficult.
You face a team that plays in the Champions League on Saturday. What will you have to do and put in place to obtain this first victory?
I will be really happy to tell you how to approach this match. We are really playing against a very strong, very powerful team and against which we should not give any gifts. I think one of the keys will be in the intensity but they also put the intensity. We will have to be very quick and find solutions very quickly because it is a team that presses a lot and if they ever have the ball they will create a superiority so we have to be very careful. I also think that Brice Samba is very good and there are good associations between players or depth with Elye Wahi. I really like Franck Haise’s work.
Spain won the Women’s World Cup but unfortunately we don’t talk too much about that but more about what happened with Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish federation. Do you think he should resign and that we talk too much about this case?
I can tell you about my experience and what I experienced at the federation because I worked there for a long time. I will say that the work that Luis Rubiales has done with his staff has been truly exceptional and that there have been very good performances within the federation and the figures speak for themselves. It seems to me that the president has admitted his errors so I think that my opinion is not really necessary on this subject.
Luis Rubiales said he did not want to resign, explaining that it was not an “act of justice” but that we were “trying to kill him”. Do you share this opinion?
My previous answer fully reflects my opinion.
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