With four notable failures this season in the Champions League (Vitinha, Barcola and Dembélé having all failed), the exercise now looks like a real curse for the capital club.
The Spanish coach brushes aside the criticism
True to his provocative and serene style, the Spanish coach brushed off the criticism by emphasizing that only those who take responsibility for shooting can miss. Above all, Luis Enrique refuses to designate a single shooter. He prefers to rely on a wide range of players capable of taking responsibility, notably citing Vitinha, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Gonçalo Ramos. For him, the diversity of shooters is a strength which has already allowed the club to win several trophies during penalty shootouts, such as the European Super Cup or the Intercontinental Cup.
“What I can say is that I know the stats because you remind me of them all the time, especially if they are negative. After the matches, at a press conference… But I know you so no problem and no worries,” said the Spanish technician this Friday on the eve of the reception of Metz during the 23rd day of Ligue 1. “What I can say is that, yes we missed penalties. This is normal because the players who miss them are the ones who shoot them. »
The technician believes that these current “small problems” are only a passing phase which will be overcome by the technical quality of his workforce. This displayed serenity is crucial at a time when PSG must manage a particular climate at the Parc des Princes, with the partial closure of the Auteuil stand and the need to win to maintain its lead at the top of the championship.
“And we won finals with these players. »
“What we are looking for is that the team has a lot of possibilities. There are a lot of players who took penalties and we scored in very difficult moments on penalties in important matches,” Luis Enrique explained to the press before the match against the Garnets. “And we won finals with these players. »
As the match approaches, PSG will have to prove that this absence of an assigned specialist is not a handicap. The return of Gonçalo Ramos to the list of potential shooters could also offer a more clinical alternative in front of the Metz goal if the opportunity arises.
