PSG vs Girona - Luis Enrique pre-match press conference

Luis Enrique, with a hint of teasing towards some journalists but clearly excited to be back in the UEFA Champions League, appeared in a press conference on the eve of PSG vs Girona. Girona is an opponent Luis Enrique appreciated last season and respects highly. Here are his full comments, translated by us.

PSG vs Girona - Luis Enrique pre-match press conference

PSG have the advantage of having a very young squad. Could that be a slight handicap in the Champions League, given that it’s often said you need a lot of experience to win it?

"Hello... How much experience do we need? (he asks the journalist in Spanish, then in French)."

I mean in terms of matches, the habit of playing in these competitions, the physical intensity, the ability to avoid mistakes in crucial games... An experienced player might handle these situations better than a younger one...

"Yes, that’s true, I hear and understand that. Do you think I have experience in the Champions League?"

Well, a little bit, yes, you’ve won it as a manager, which counts. And as a player, you also had a career that maybe allows you to pass on what to do or not to do.

"Yes, but exactly. You can win it without having much experience. I think it’s hard to argue about how much experience is needed. That’s why I asked you the question. There’s no doubt we’re a young team, but I don’t set any limits for myself or my players. Is it about experience, or is it about playing football? Experience is important, certainly, in all areas of life. But I see many experienced players making the same mistakes, just as I see many young ones doing the same. It’s hard to define the percentage of experience needed, which is why I asked. I don’t think being a young team is a handicap for us. That’s how I feel, and I’ve got experience."

Outside of matches, what do you enjoy most about your day-to-day as a manager?

"What do I enjoy the most? Maybe the day I get the most pleasure is matchday. Because everything is already prepared, everything is done. I love the competition, the uncertainty before the match, the pre-match talk, and the halftime talk. For me, the match is the best part of my job. And of course, the relationship with my players is something I enjoy, or at least try to enjoy. Maybe they don’t feel the same way, but I enjoy it a lot."

At the start of the season, you said it’s good to have a striker who scores 40 goals, but also good to have four who score 12. Barcola and Dembele already have 7 between them. As the team returns to the Champions League, has the club already moved on from Mbappe’s departure?

"I think it’s important to focus on the present. And this present is about our team. A team within a very clear project that we outlined last season. From there, I believe we need several months to draw conclusions, maybe even the end of the season or several years, to see if this idea and project have materialised. What I can say is that what I’ve seen so far, and since last season, pleases me. I think I made a great decision by joining a club like PSG, and now it’s about continuing to meet expectations."

Given your tough schedule, do you consider PSG to be one of the favourites in this competition, where dropping points is not an option?

"I could say that the 10-12 teams aiming to win this competition do not all have the same schedule. And we’ve been handed the toughest one. But we’re not going to use that as an excuse. We will fight in every match, without a doubt, and we’ll see what level we can show because it’s a very balanced and very difficult competition."

Is the team playing the way you want them to?

"Coaches are a bit selfish in that regard. If the team plays well and wins, it's because they did what we wanted. If they lose and play poorly, it's because they made mistakes in some areas... It’s quite normal and common. I repeat, to truly assess a team, it’s better to start the season the way we have, but to make a proper evaluation, we need to wait a few months and see how the team evolves in each competition."

This new Champions League format excites spectators because of the big fixtures, but it frustrates players and some coaches due to the increased number of matches. Isn’t there a risk to the mental and physical health of the players, especially with PSG having the Club World Cup at the end of the season?

"It’s true that the schedule, with these two or even four extra matches, will be even more packed than it already was. But I think to properly analyse the new competition, we will have to wait and see how the performances of each team shape up and what they bring to the tournament. From the start, we’re going to have very high-level games. I think it excites all the fans, but to get an overall perspective of this new format, we need to wait a bit longer."

What are your thoughts on this Girona team, who will be playing their first Champions League match? Did you ever imagine facing them in this competition?

"Honestly, no one expected this. It's the first time Girona will play in the Champions League, but last season, I watched almost all of their games. They were one of the best Spanish teams last year and one of the most entertaining to watch. They have a great coach, Michel, and played some fantastic football last season. They led La Liga for several matchdays. They are a very entertaining team to watch. They play very well with the ball, and they press extremely well. I’m a fan of their coach, Michel. Tomorrow, he will receive his reward, which is playing in the Champions League at one of Europe's iconic stadiums. It's a huge reward for them. I hope they don’t play as well tomorrow. I congratulate them on their qualification and last season, and I wish them all the best for this season, except when they play against us."

How do you prepare for a match against a team like Girona that your players might not know very well?

"And on top of that, we need to consider that they’ve lost many players from last season's starting XI. They’ve lost five key players, and it shows, which is normal. We always prepare for matches based on what we are going to do. From there, we anticipate how the opponent will adapt defensively to our system. Girona is a team that will challenge us for possession, no doubt. They’re one of the few teams that can do that. So, we prepare for the match like any other high-level game, giving the players the right information that we consider necessary."

Asensio seems to be your preferred choice in the number nine position since the start of the season. How do you compare him to Kolo Muani, and how do you make your decision on matchday?

"As a coach, I always want all my players to be motivated and feel they have a chance to start. Based on the finishing drills we did today, I could easily field any of my six forwards, no doubt. I think versatility is one of the characteristics of our team. Whether it's Kolo Muani, Ramos when he recovers, Asensio, Lee, Doue, Barcola, Dembele, I have so many options… There’s also Ibrahim Mbaye. I have so many players who can play in this position that for me, it's a pleasure. Now, the season is long, and the player needs to understand that their job is to be ready when the coach deems it appropriate or when the team needs them. On this point, I have no complaints."

How do you feel the day before a match like today?

"On the day before a match, I talk to the press, and it’s always wonderful (smiling). I also talk to the players every day, about everything. In the end, you spend more time with the team than with your own family. But in the end, we’re also like a family. We behave the same way. Being part of a professional team means being together when things are going well, but also when they aren't. There are many values that are adaptable to life. The day-to-day is very enjoyable in a professional football team. Even when things aren’t going well, it’s important to stay united and support each other. It’s no different from life in general. And I often tell my players: how lucky we are to be professional footballers."

You tried a lot of things last season. It feels like you've entered a second phase at the start of this season. What do you think?

"Yes, it's true, we’ve changed a lot of things, and we will continue to change whatever my staff and I believe is necessary to improve the team's performance. And despite the fact that when you arrive at a team, the goal is to perform, we haven’t stopped changing things. Based on what? Based on what we thought was best for the team. Whether it pleases a player, a journalist, or a fan more, we try to give the best options to our players and the team. So yes, we’ve changed things and will keep doing so. I have no fear of change. Even when things are going well, if I think the change is beneficial for the team, I’ll make it. I’m not going to detail my plan and where we’re heading, but it’s a journey with twists, straights, and then more twists. Managing that is one of the aspects of my job that I enjoy the most."

Since Mbappe's departure, there has been much more talk about Luis Enrique's PSG. Do you have the same influence and weight at PSG as you did at Barca? What do you like the most about PSG and Paris?

"Managers, we always have influence over the teams we coach. For better or worse, it depends on everyone's judgement. My time at Barca was wonderful as a manager, not only with the first team but also with the reserves. With the first team, it is true that they recruited me to unite a group of unique players and to get results. It was a team already built and established. It was a completely different project from last season at PSG, where the objective was to create something from a collective mentality, maybe even to create our own stars. Every project is interesting because it requires some adaptation. It is a more flexible project here. I have more influence with president Nasser (Al-Khelaifi) and Luis Campos to build this structure and generate something. I am very motivated and delighted to have the club's trust, and I am trying to repay that trust with results."

What do you like about Michel?

"First of all, I am a fan of Girona because Michel also went through a difficult spell there. Most clubs would have sacked him, but they kept him on. He showed how he could make his team play. Last season, I really enjoyed watching them play. I really like young managers who have the courage to attack, who are bold, who always use the ball to create and start from the back. I like their intensity without the ball. What will they bring tomorrow? I don't know, but knowing Michel, I believe they will attack and be brave, like they were against Barca, even though Barca played very well. I don't think they will change their style of play because if they are in the Champions League, it's because they deserve it. Obviously, they have many absentees compared to last season, and their new players need time to adapt, but I consider myself a fan of last season's Girona and Michel, and I hope they win all their Champions League matches, except the one against us."