Runner-up to OGC Nice at the dawn of the 11th day of Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain will try to achieve a fifth success in a row, in all competitions, against the Héraultais, Friday evening at 9 p.m. With 12 goals scored and only three conceded in the last four outings, the capital club seems (finally) to find its cruising speed in this 2023-2024 financial year. Heckled by the press, particularly for his tactical choices after the scathing defeat (1-4) against Newcastle, Luis Enrique, inducted this summer on the PSG bench, also wanted to take stock at a press conference.
Luis Enrique’s PSG is only just beginning…
“The team is doing things very well, but we are still in an initial phase. We are still in a process of synergy to see which players get along best. I think I have an incredible squad with quality players in every position. I am satisfied with my team as I said at the end of the transfer window, but there is always room to improve., first confided the former coach of La Roja, a fan of a game based on possession, but sometimes criticized for his famous 4-2-4 where the balance is then undermined. A point on which the 53-year-old Spaniard also justified himself to the journalists present at the Poissy training center.
“It’s a constant evolution. I try to make PSG unpredictable for the opponent, but predictable for us. It is a complex process that takes time to set up. It’s different from what I did in the selection and in this scheme there can be four offensive players. This can be difficult to understand from the outside. My idea, I repeat, is to have infinite formations in attack with the same players. In order to become unpredictable for the opponent and therefore difficult to counter. I’m happy with how the players are assimilating this process. It will take time and it will be better when I can explain it in French”.
Group mentality as the main asset!
Relaunched on the difficult balance to find between attractive play and accounting requirements, the ex-coach of FC Barcelona did not, moreover, display any undue concerns. “We will have more chances of winning matches if we play good football. It takes time to work on solutions to counteract the pressure that will be in front of us. I am convinced that the better you play, the better you can win matches.”. Determined to take his squad to the heights, Luis Enrique finally assured that he intended to rely on the positive mentality of his group to put forward his playing ideas, weekend after weekend. “Honestly, we always have a global perception. I do not compare with my previous experiences. We are very happy with the attitude and involvement of the players. I am optimistic, very happy with what I see. But there is still a lot of room for improvement, because I am very ambitious”.
Leader of group F in the Champions League with 6 units before moving to AC Milan on November 7, PSG – who could also temporarily take the lead in the championship in the event of a victory (or draw) facing the MHSC, is in any case launched. If adjustments are still regularly pointed out by observers of the capital club – aerial play, depth management, efficiency on free kicks – the Luis Enrique method seems to be gradually proving its worth in the City of Lights. A good omen for the rest of the season, especially at a time when the Spanish technician assures that these are only the beginnings of the desired appearance for his collective.
