PSG vs Rennes - Luis Enrique pre-match press conference

Luis Enrique appeared relaxed when discussing the injury situation, but he was not particularly inclined to respond to recent criticism during his Thursday press conference, ahead of PSG's match against Rennes.

The Spanish coach was also asked about several statements from his documentary, as well as the congested fixture list and the upcoming Club World Cup. Here’s a full translation of his remarks.

PSG vs Rennes - Luis Enrique pre-match press conference

How do you explain PSG being less impressive in the last two matches?

"More impressive or less impressive? Ah, less impressive (laughs). I was thinking, that’s a lot of positivity this early in the day... (rubs his hands together). I was a bit surprised (smiles). That’s life, that’s life my love (in French). It’s football."

Do you think your players are physically struggling a bit since the international break?

"I see things very differently. Over the course of a season, there’s an evolution. There are better moments and not-so-good moments. It’s part of the logical process of a team’s growth. I feel the exact opposite. My team responds positively to the negative situations posed by opponents. All the players are very eager to improve. I feel completely different to how you do."

How will the match against Arsenal influence your choices for Rennes, especially with a busy treatment room?

"At no point, when starting the match against Rennes, will I be thinking about the Arsenal game. We have to win against Rennes, that’s the important match. The near future doesn’t concern me at all."

Joao Neves has played just under 400 minutes since the start of the season. What’s your assessment of his adaptation to PSG, and what do you expect more from him on the pitch?

"What I expect from him is similar to what I expect from all my midfielders. He’s perfectly suited to my playing philosophy, with vital characteristics for us, like not losing the ball under pressure. Few players have that quality. He also has vision, physical power, intelligence, and connects well with others. I believe he’s adapting quickly, even though he’s still at the beginning of this process. The same goes for new signings like Safonov, Doue, and Pacho. There’s a good harmony with the rest of the team, and I’m very happy with their contributions."

You’re playing three matches in nine days before the next international break, with many injuries. How are you approaching this period?

"These are typical periods for a top-level team, and we’re happy to play all these matches. It’s true this comes at a time when we have a few minor issues, but there are no serious injuries apart from the three we’ve known about for a while. These are just small problems that always arise during a season, and we know how to solve them as a team."

In your upcoming documentary on Movistar, you say you wouldn’t have coached PSG with Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe. Why?

"I don’t remember anything anymore. (then in French) I don’t remember anything. I’ll use this press conference to say that I won’t comment on any phrases from the documentary that are taken out of context. I don’t regret anything I said, but I won’t comment because these were things said in the heat of the moment. What I said, I meant, it’s my opinion."

You also mention in the documentary that you’d be willing to take a pay cut to speak less to the media. Could you explain your relationship with journalists and what bothers you about press duties?

"I actually have a good time with you, with the press. But if I had the choice, I wouldn’t have any problem not speaking to the media. Yet, I’ve never cut a press conference short. I like talking. But it was a spontaneous thought, and yes, if today you asked me to sign a paper saying I wouldn’t talk to the media anymore in exchange for a 25% or even 50% pay cut, I’d sign it immediately.

But I think it’s impossible because in the contracts we sign with clubs, there’s an obligation to speak. I have a good time with you, but if I could avoid it, I would. Especially after matches because I don’t have the energy at that point. But I’ll say it again, I have a good time with you, and I see you laughing too, so I guess it’s not that terrible for you either."

You have a lot of injured players, and a new international break is approaching soon. How are you preparing for this? Do you have direct contact with other national team managers? Any specific requests?

“No. In reality, I don't waste energy on that. I was an unusual national team manager who would give rest to my players who played a lot at club level. Here, I often rest my players when I see they have an excessive workload. It's my way of thinking as a coach. I think a lot about the workload, the travel, the age, the player's profile. That's how I understand this sport. Today, we have minor issues with certain players, but it's our job to manage that. We have a sufficiently large and high-level squad to find solutions.”

I’ll give you a little challenge: can you answer me about tactics in French?

“No (smiling). For that, I have Pedro Piqueras and Alberto Piernas, who are perfectly bilingual and speak French fluently. When I talk tactics with my players, I speak in Spanish, and they translate into French. My goal is to do it in French, and I’m sure I’ll get there, but for now, when I talk with you in French, I’ll do it when I’m confident enough not to make mistakes.”

You're in a highly pressured position. How do you manage that, and what is the most difficult pressure to handle: from the club, the supporters, or the media?

“Pressure... If I have pressure, that's a good thing. It means I'm in an important position, at an important club, and I have top-level players. I want that pressure. Plus, I’m not stupid. I've been living with pressure for years. If results are good, people love us; if they're not, someone else will come in and try to do better than me. I accept all the challenges in this sport. I feel privileged to experience this pressure.”

You were forced to face a deep block against Reims. What do you think is missing, technically and tactically, for your team to be as effective as possible against low blocks this season?

“Low blocks are always a bit like the theory of relativity. What I mean is, teams always try to do different things. We saw this in the Champions League with a very high-level match. It’s always difficult to face 10 players playing behind the ball. But it’s also a problem if they press high. We, as coaches, always prepare to anticipate the problems we might face.

For example, Rennes, in their previous matches, pressed very high. Will they also press high against us? I think sometimes yes, but sometimes no. I don't think they'll do it consistently because they'll adapt to their opponent. We are a dominant team, with more possession than the opponent, so they adapt and do things you don't expect. My job, along with my staff, is to prepare for the possibilities and potential problems and to find solutions. But historically, it’s very difficult to play against a low block.”

I’d like to come back to this pressure of always having to win. It's your second season at PSG. Do you feel there's a bit less pressure now?

“Honestly, no. There's also internal pressure, from the staff, to always improve. I know the club’s standards and objectives, and our goal is to make history. For that, we need to win everything and win the most important competition. That's my objective; I'm not here for anything else.”

This Rennes team has had a somewhat mixed start to the season. What are you expecting from your players against this team?

“Rennes have the same coach as last season. There have been a few changes to their squad, but it’s still a team that competes at the top end of the table. They’ve already caused us quite a few problems last season. We know they'll vary their play throughout the match, maybe alternating between high pressing, mid pressing, and low pressing.

We expect that, and what is certain is that there are no easy matches. There will be difficulties, but I’m always an optimist. We know we will generally have more possession than our opponent. We’ll also be playing at the Parc des Princes, which is a huge source of motivation, and we want to continue playing good football and taking points.”

You’ve started 21 players since the beginning of the season. Are you satisfied with how each player has contributed to shaking up the hierarchy?

“I believe this strategy has different objectives. The first is to give everyone opportunities, so they feel they can play at this club. The second thing is to be prepared for all situations: injuries, physical drops. And finally, I think it's more exciting to tackle a long season like this from a global perspective, not just with 11, 12, or 13 starters. I believe this strategy has more advantages than disadvantages.

It’s true that with 11 players, you can have clearer objectives and a clearer playing style. But what interests me is the bigger picture, and you can’t do that with 11 or 15 players. You need 20 or 23 players who can help the team and who, every day in training, show you they can play. That’s how I think a team has the best chance of growing.”

Guardiola and Rodri have recently spoken about the demanding schedule, saying it’s up to the players to take the lead on this and go on strike. Do you think it’s up to the players to act to make those in charge rethink the overloaded calendar?

"Without a doubt. It's up to the players to speak out. I agree that the schedule is overloaded, especially theirs. Ours is a bit lighter because we have two fewer teams in Ligue 1, which means four fewer matches. We also have one less competition to play compared to the English sides. I agree that a less congested calendar benefits everyone. However, we are in a better situation.

The Club World Cup? That only happens once every four years… I believe it's a very appealing competition, and everyone wants to take part in it, even the players. It's something that has never been done before. But again, I agree, the schedule could be reduced, which would allow for better care of the players. However, our scenario is different from English or Spanish football. I share their view, but in my situation, I don't have the right to complain."