Paris Saint-Germain travel south to the Vélodrome for Le Classique against Olympique de Marseille with the Ballon d’Or debate following them, but Luis Enrique has rejected the idea that the club is directing support towards any one candidate.
Speaking two days before the meeting in Marseille, the PSG coach said the French champions have no internal preference between Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé or any of their other nominees for France Football’s individual prize.
“Our plan is to win trophies. That is the plan,” Luis Enrique said when asked whether PSG had adopted a strategy for the Ballon d’Or vote.
Ten PSG names on the shortlist
PSG have 10 players among the 30 nominees, a substantial representation from a squad that has carried its ambitions across domestic and European competition.
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Ousmane Dembélé
- Achraf Hakimi
- Marquinhos
- Nuno Mendes
- Willian Pacho
- João Neves
- Fabián Ruiz
- Vitinha
- Ferran Torres, the club’s recent arrival
The coach said the group’s size was cause for satisfaction rather than a reason to elevate a single player. “The club has not made that decision. We are delighted to have 10 players in the world’s top 30,” he said.
Luis Enrique also argued that Désiré Doué had been unfortunate to miss the nominations. “Had we been able to choose, Dés would have been included,” he said, before questioning why the French midfielder had not made the list.
A collective case in Paris
The Spaniard said PSG would continue to stand behind the entire squad while hoping the eventual winner comes from the Paris dressing room. “We try to represent all of our players. We believe we deserve to win this award,” he said. “We hope a PSG player wins it, and we are trying to protect our team.”
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for 26 October in London. Before then, PSG’s immediate attention turns to Marseille, where the Vélodrome will host one of French football’s defining fixtures.
