Two days before Paris Saint-Germain travel to Marseille for another Classique, Luis Enrique spoke of tension, control and a squad full of individual honours contenders — while insisting that the club’s only Ballon d’Or plan is to win trophies.
PSG will not choose a Ballon d’Or favourite
The Paris coach rejected the idea that PSG had decided to push either Khvicha Kvaratskhelia or Ousmane Dembélé in the race for the next France Football Ballon d’Or.
- PSG have 10 players among the 30 nominees, a total Luis Enrique said pleased the club.
- He said Désiré Doué would have been added to the list if PSG had been able to choose another candidate, questioning his absence.
- Luis Enrique said the club intended to support every one of its players rather than establish an internal hierarchy.
- He believes PSG deserve to have the winner and hopes the award goes to one of his players.
“The strategy is to win trophies,” Luis Enrique said. “We have not made a decision as a club. We want to defend all our players.”
Brest performance reassessed before Marseille trip
Luis Enrique softened his earlier description of PSG’s 1-0 victory over Brest on Sunday. Rather than calling it their worst Ligue 1 display of the season, he said it had been their least convincing outing across their first four league fixtures.
He pointed to the 2-1 defeat against Monaco as a match in which PSG had performed very well despite losing. He also felt his side deserved more from their opening games against Rennes and Lille, with the 2-2 result mentioned in his assessment.
The coach nevertheless gave Brest credit for making the latest match difficult. “It was our least good game because Brest play very well and it is always complicated to face Brest,” he said.
A Classique with no room for relaxation
Marseille have changed coach and seen a number of players leave, making them harder to read before Sunday’s meeting. Yet Luis Enrique said the defining feature of the contest would remain the atmosphere surrounding PSG’s biggest domestic rivalry.
- PSG are preparing for a match Luis Enrique described as special and difficult to control in every aspect.
- He said his players will target all three points but must handle emotions as well as the football.
- The Spaniard believes it is impossible for a PSG player to be relaxed before a Classique.
- He warned that excitement can provide extra motivation but can also become a problem if it is not managed.
“We know exactly what these three points mean to the team and to the supporters,” he said. “No player will be relaxed. They may be very excited instead. We need to control the match and what matters on the pitch.”
Asked whether last season’s tense aftermath could influence the approach, Luis Enrique said such occasions are inherently different from ordinary fixtures. PSG are used to major matches, he added, but will need to be superior to win because Marseille will make it difficult.
Violence concerns and Hakimi uncertainty
Supporters are again unable to travel for the Classique, a subject Luis Enrique said had remained complicated throughout his three years in France. He argued that sport should bring people together and said he hoped every football match could end without violence.
There was also a brief exchange over Bruno Genesio. Luis Enrique initially said he would wish the Marseille coach well after the game, before correcting himself because of the rivalry. He then clarified that Genesio is a highly regarded coach and that he could wish him well.
Achraf Hakimi remains an injury doubt after missing group training with a right adductor problem. Luis Enrique said a decision would be taken after Saturday’s session, while declining to provide Marseille with further information on the defender’s availability.
