“If I were coach of the Spain team, I would call Warren”: Luis Enrique praises Zaire-Emery

2023-11-02 15:01:34

On the eve of hosting Montpellier for the 11th day of Ligue 1, Luis Enrique was at a press conference this Thursday noon at the PSG Campus after a training session marked by strong gusts of wind. The Spanish coach spoke at length about the progress of his team and said he was very satisfied with the behavior of his players in relation to the integration of his playing precepts. The Parisian coach also took the opportunity to reiterate, once again, all the good things he thinks of Warren Zaire-Emery in relation to his investment on and off the field. In his eyes, the 17-year-old French midfielder is quite simply an example to follow.

Milan Skriniar is the player you have used the most since your arrival, how do you analyze his start to the season?

LUIS ENRIQUE. Milan is a player that I really like, a player who has great international experience, who brings everything I need as a defender. He manages to start the game, to make it progress. In addition to being a solution for recovery, he is a powerful player, who wins duels, he is very tactically intelligent, he is truly one of the breed of leaders, he is really a contribution to the club.

PSG is the team that competes in the fewest aerial duels, is this logical or is this an area for improvement?

It seems to me that we have a lot of aerial duels, because the opposing team forces us to do it. In our attacking phase, we try not to play balls that are too long, but it’s clearly not our favorite offensive game. We don’t play long balls, we are a team that is perhaps less dominant or one that is not characterized by that.

How can we explain the low number of free kicks scored in Ligue 1 or at PSG?

It’s not something I practice, it’s the players who practice it. Over the course of training, some have become more efficient, it depends on the state of mind of the players. Sometimes some players like Lee, Hakimi, Asensio, Soler practice shooting them, it depends on each player. It depends on the consistency and individual qualities of the players at the technical level.

Is PSG starting to represent what you want in the developed game?

We are in a process of growth, of learning. We are in the initial phase, we must always remember the principles, recover things we have lost, we are in a process of synergy. I find that I have an incredible squad with competitive players. I am very satisfied with my team, even if there is always a period of improvement.

What would be a perfect season for Kylian Mbappé with a view to obtaining a future Ballon d’Or?

Obviously to win Ballon d’Or, in addition to the individual contribution, which Kylian already has, you need trophies. Here, we try to win as many trophies as possible, but it is obvious that a player of Kylian’s level will be successful in the selection. I have no doubt that he will win many Ballon d’Ors.

Marco Asensio has returned to team training since the start of the season: what does he bring to your game?

Medically speaking, he has recovered, but he needs to get back to his peak fitness level, he has not fully returned to training. He must take the time to come back, I am happy to have him back. He is a player capable of playing in several positions, he can play false number 9, in the corridors, as a midfielder, in the center. For a coach to have a player of this profile is very important. This allows me to change the way I play thanks to him. He’s a player who doesn’t lose the ball even under pressure, that’s something important for us.

What percentage do you estimate the evolution of your team?

It’s a constant evolution, I’m in this process. What I like and what we aim to do is to have a PSG that is unpredictable for the opponent but predictable for us, we have to generate uncertainty for the opponent. It’s a more complex process than in selection, and here we are trying to develop something more complex, there can be four, five attacking players. My idea is to ensure that PSG has infinite solutions in attack and that it is difficult to thwart. I have teams that dominate, the opposing team has to change the way they play when they face us. We need diversity, different aspects so as not to be an easy team to defend. I’m happy with the way the team is developing. I will be happy to explain it to you in French, but it will take me time (laughs).

Can Warren Zaire-Emery be called up to the French team at the next meeting?

I think that if I were coach of the Spain team, I would call Warren. I’m no longer a coach but everyone sees what’s happening. It was Christophe Galtier who discovered it. I saw him play last season, in the hallway, in the middle. He is exemplary, spectacular, I can only thank PSG for providing us with players like this. He is an example for those who want to become professionals. His work on the machines, his preparation, studies, outside of training hours… It’s not normal for a 17-year-old player to have such a schedule. This is an example to follow at PSG or for all other teams.

You’ve been at the helm of PSG for four months now. Do you consider yourself ahead or behind the game you had in mind?

Honestly, we have a global perception, we don’t copy any model. We rely on the potential we have. I am very happy and very optimistic for the attitude and for the overall perception of the players that we have. When we see the way they analyze training, matches, it’s a very long process. I find it hard to tell you. I didn’t plan for this sort of thing, but I’m optimistic. I am a very ambitious person and our room for improvement is still very large. There are still many things to improve.