On the eve of the match against Nice, Luis Enrique presented himself at a press conference in a climate weighed down by the news he feared: the unavailability of Désiré Doué for several weeks. The young attacking midfielder suffers from a muscle injury in his right thigh, contracted in Lorient. A frustrating absence for Paris Saint-Germain, deprived of a player on the rise, and a few days before the European clash against Bayern Munich. However, the Spanish technician surprised with his calm, almost detached tone.
Luis Enrique, a measured but disconcerting reaction
“It’s a shame, it’s never pleasant to see a player injured, but it’s part of a footballer’s life“, declared Luis Enrique, refusing to give in to dramatization. Far from the emotion that could be expected after this news, the PSG coach preferred to emphasize the overall management of his workforce: “We are concerned every day about the health of the players, but we are also recovering vital strength.” A pragmatic speech, which reflects the philosophy of the former Spain coach: injury as a natural variable at high level, without it becoming an excuse.
Asked about the possibility of widespread concern in the locker room, the coach brushed aside: “If you think about not getting injured, you can’t be a professional player.” A sentence that says a lot about his demanding mentality. In the same vein, he mentioned the rest granted to Hakimi, specifying that flexibility remained at the heart of his management: “If he wants to breathe, no problem. The important thing is that they arrive here with a smile and the desire to play.”
Nice, a test before Bayern
Luis Enrique did not shy away from the coming challenge. Nice, victorious twice at the Parc in recent years, remains a feared opponent. “It will be difficult, they have found a good dynamic again. To win, you need a whole team, not just one good player.” The message is clear: the unit will have to compensate for the absence of Doué. The Spanish coach also stressed that this meeting constituted “the best way to prepare for Bayern”.
Serene, sometimes confusing, Luis Enrique continues to advocate emotional stability. No drama, no excuses, but an assumed confidence in his group and in collective work. PSG, first in Ligue 1 but still irregular, will have to prove against Nice that it can overcome the blows of fate without losing its momentum. And the message from his trainer seems clear: “Being afraid is normal, but you have to transform it into strength.”
