2024-01-03 05:11:21
Record holder of the event and defending champion, Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain is aiming for a first trophy in 2024 this Wednesday, against Toulouse.
«We want to conquer all the titles», insists Luis Enrique. “The objective? Always as big as possible, winning all competitions. This is the basis», confirms Danilo Pereira. That’s good: PSG has the opportunity to fill its trophy cabinet from the first match of 2024. Champions of France, the Rouge et Bleu challenge Toulouse, holders of the Coupe de France, this Wednesday (8:45 p.m.) at Parc des Princes on behalf of the Champions Trophy. A competition in which the capital club is the record holder (11) and the title holder, after crushing Nantes (4-0) in 2022.
Certainly, it is not the most prestigious title. The Parisians would probably exchange the 11 coronations in this competition for a European title. Logic. In the meantime, what is taken is no longer to be taken. This is the first title of the season. It would be Luis Enrique’s first since leaving Barça in 2017.It’s always a great motivation», assures the Spanish coach, not failing to emphasize that if PSG has this opportunity, it is thanks to the work of his predecessor, Christophe Galtier. And to continue: “I would love to be able to play for a trophy every week and I’m sure the players would too. The motivation for a final is always greater. This trophy is stimulating. It will be played at home but on neutral ground, there will be a great atmosphere. We are delighted.» The Toulouse residents, a little less, but the LFP and the two clubs agreed on the Parc des Princes after the defection of the Thai organizer. The match was originally scheduled to take place in early August in Bangkok. Finally, it’s January and in Paris.
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There is still work
Still, after six months of discovery, Luis Enrique’s PSG will quickly have to ramp up until mid-February and the double confrontation against Real Sociedad in the round of 16 of the Champions League. So far, the results are in the green: first place in Ligue 1 with five points ahead of Nice and Monaco (the ranking here) and qualification in C1, even in second place in the group. Basically, everything is not so perfect… There is still work to be done. And this in a certain number of areas… “You have to trust Luis Enrique because he does a good job in the long term. We obviously have to improve, the finishing, the defense, the construction… But with work we will achieve it», swears Danilo Pereira, sent to the press on Tuesday.
One thing is certain: beyond the fact that they will play at home, even without their Ultras, the Parisians are leaving with the favor of the forecasts, that is very clear. Already because there is no photo between the two squads, the two clubs. And the dynamics of the two teams. A clash of extremes. If they are still in the running in the Europa League, having notably beaten Liverpool (3-2) at the Stadium, Toulouse are no longer there in the championship. Their last victory in L1 dates back to October 1 against Metz (3-0). From ? Ten matches without a win (5 draws, 5 defeats). TFC has only won two matches in L1.
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Toulouse is in difficulty but a final remains a difficult match.
Danilo Pereira
Obviously, Luis Enrique and his Portuguese soldier are wary before facing the 16th in the French championship rankings. The opposite would have been surprising in fact… Especially “that after the holidays, it’s always difficult. But we are at PSG and we have to think about this competition to win. There is a lot of ambition. We always see the next match as the most important», insists Danilo Pereira, estimating “that a final always remains a final, these are difficult matches. Toulouse is in difficulty but a final remains a difficult match. They will do their best to beat us. We will have to be focused from the start to the end of the match to win.»
Same story from the Asturian coach of PSG, detailing the qualities of his one-day opponent: “This is a team that knows how to do a lot of things with the ball. If you give them time, they occupy spaces very well. They play in different ways. Without the ball, they are capable of being dominant, high pressure, withdrawals… It’s a team that has worked well with its coach. They will make our lives more complicated. It’s a final for them. And they were very good last year, they won the Coupe de France final and it was deserved. Our motivation is very high, but theirs is undoubtedly even higher! It will be a difficult match. 90 minutes to see who is the best. It will be a complicated final for us.» And added: “It’s also ideal training for what awaits us in the rest of the season.»And in particular the C1, this side «To life, to death» of the cleaver match.
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Luis Enrique’s choices
It would also help not to spoil the atmosphere at the start of the season. Basically, it wouldn’t be a tragedy. But we know this well: victory would be considered normal, while defeat would be synonymous with crisis. This is how life goes in Paris, even at the time ofnew era“. Still deprived of Nuno Mendes, Presnel Kimpembe and Arnau Tenas, but with the future starters in the selection Achraf Hakimi and Kang-in Lee, with the returnees Fabian Ruiz, Ousmane Dembélé and Keylor Navas and the newcomer Lucas Beraldo, Luis Enrique n he doesn’t hesitate to put pressure on: “A final is the perfect stage to see what your team is made of».
We will carefully follow the positioning of Kylian Mbappé, free to discuss with other clubs since January 1 and whose contract will end in June. We will also be attentive to the tactical choices of the Spanish coach. The pressure is also on him. He knows it well. “The season does not start tomorrow (this Wednesday). We are reaching the sixth month of work. Luis Enrique’s PSG, you will know what it is at the end of the season. We are at the start of the second part of the season. The end of the season, when the titles are decided, that’s when we can judge the team and analyze it. We will see what the team has conquered at that time“, he explains. She could already get her hands on this Champions Trophy this Wednesday, against a team which had held her in check at the very start of the season (1-1), at the Toulouse Stadium.
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