Vacation time has come for Ligue 1 clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, who completed their first part of the season in the best possible way this Wednesday evening. Indeed, Luis Enrique’s players defeated FC Metz (3-1), on the lawn of the Parc des Princes, during the 17th day of the championship. If the Rouge et Bleu are indeed officially autumn champions, the first part of the campaign under the leadership of the Spanish tactician was not easy. This truce for the end of year celebrations could do the greatest good for the Parisian players and staff. Because the last few weeks seem to have been more than trying for the professional group. Between the slight bickering, the rumors in the run-up to the transfer window and the tough matches, PSG’s mentality was put to the test.
“Holidays are about enjoying family, Christmas celebrations. The players don’t have a program or a plan: disconnect and enjoy the family, that’s the key word. At a club like Paris Saint-Germain, there is so much pressure and intensity around every person. It is important to enjoy family, vacations and that everyone who is part of the club can spend a few days with their family, and nothing else. Until then, I would like to congratulate all the Parisian fans and wish them, as well as everyone at the club, a happy end-of-year celebration.summed up the Spanish coach, Luis Enrique, in a press conference after the match against Messins.
A trying end of the year!
First data to analyze. It is important to emphasize that all PSG meetings – or almost – during the month of December ended with a very uncertain scenario. The 11 Parisian players each time had to battle to either hold on to a draw (against Borussia Dortmund in Germany, against Newcastle at the Parc des Princes), or narrowly pocket points (against FC Nantes at the Parc des Princes, against LOSC in the North). Hence the importance of rotating the workforce well to avoid mental and physical fatigue: “Some players may be embarrassed. It’s important that the player feels that it’s a great team, I have two players for each position. I hope that we can always improve our squad during the next transfer windows. Regardless of the players, this is a team that fights for titles. You have to put people on the pitch, in the stands or on the bench. It’s my way of handling things.”, explained the Spanish coach on Wednesday evening, at a press conference, after his team’s victory. In any case, despite ups and downs, Paris Saint-Germain is still in contention in all competitions with a solid first place in Ligue 1.
With the long absences of Nuno Mendes, Presnel Kimpembe, Fabian Ruiz and even Keylor Navas, during the last match sheet of the first phase, PSG seems to desperately need to breathe a good week after an ultimately almost perfect start to the season on the balance sheet – apart from the 2nd place of the group in C1: “We had a good first part of the season but after that it’s true, we still have to improve, continue to work. This break will do us good to rest well, to recover our strength for what awaits us in the second half of the season, it will be decisive for us this year. We can always improve in football. It’s a sport where you can improve every day, in every practice and in every match. Like the coach said, we will be a better team. We need time but little by little, we understand what the coach is asking of us and we try to show it on the pitch., Lucas Hernandez told us, in the mixed zone. Now, the Parisians must take advantage of the next few days to recharge their batteries because they will be back on January 3 for the Champions Trophy against Toulouse then in the Coupe de France against the modest club of Revel. And casually, Real Sociedad will arrive more quickly than you think…
