Lille-PSG: “Defensively, it’s our best match of the season,” says Luis Enrique

2023-12-18 01:17:10

While his team held a ninth consecutive victory in Ligue 1 in their hands, Luis Enrique finally saw them stumble at the very end of the match and let the three points slip away on the Lille pitch this Sunday evening (1-1). If he appreciated the first 80 minutes of his players, he regretted at the press conference the management of the last fifteen minutes. The Spanish technician accepted his change in tactical scheme and said he was satisfied with the way in which his team had defended.

What feeling prevails at the end of this match?

LUIS ENRIQUE. (He thinks for a long time). I don’t know if frustration is the right word. We played a very complete match for 80 minutes and in the last 15 minutes, we lost control, Lille came closer. I think it hurts, that’s how it is, that’s football. It lasts 95 minutes and we must always be at our maximum level throughout the entire match. In the end, we leave with a draw.

Why did you decide to change your gaming system?

Yes it was a change depending on the game, because we will occupy spaces with different functions depending on the opponent. We played against an opponent who defends a bit like us. We succeeded in generating control situations. The first 80 minutes were very good, but then we were no longer able to do the right pressing, you always have to know how to occupy spaces.

Can you explain to us why you are starting Kylian as number 9? And why didn’t he celebrate his goal?

(It leaves a big five-second gap). Regarding the second answer, this is a question that is not for me, but for Kylian. For your first question, the only difference is who will play with him, who will accompany him on the sides or more inside the field. Even if you ask me questions millions and millions of times, it will be the same answer.

Why did you decide to put Zaire-Emery in a different position compared to the other matches?

With the ball, we wanted to have a player who occupies the inside lane, a player who serves as support. Vitinha and him changed positions a lot, I really liked it. Without the ball, he had to make the efforts of a right-back. Defensively, it was the best game of the season.

Will you continue this tactical innovation in the future?

I think there’s something we didn’t say, it was that the state of the pitch prevented both teams from putting on a show. Every minute we receive information that we will use. We aim to fight for all the titles. I don’t know the future, but it’s the players who will decide it. It’s a match that will help us gather as much information as possible for the future.