Paris Saint-Germain will face Nice in the upcoming 7th round of Ligue 1 on October 7, Beijing time. Before the match, Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique attended a press conference and answered reporters' questions on topics such as the team's status, analysis of opponents, players' performance and tactical adjustments.
Enrique began by stating that the team is in good shape but needs to adjust their mentality through this weekend's matches to be better prepared for the challenges of Ligue 1. He mentioned Nice as an opponent with a solid defense, and that despite currently sitting in ninth place, the team maintains a positive attitude and hopes to regroup after the Champions League loss.
On the issue of Dembele, Enrique emphasized that when a player fails to meet his obligations, he is not ready to play. However, once the player fulfills his obligations, he is ready. This is a situation that happens to all Ligue 1 players, there are no exceptions.
Speaking about the way he manages the team, Enrique said that he will be strict when he needs to be strict and more lenient when he needs to be lenient. This is an important ability for him as a coach and as a person, and it is the key to his ability to lead the team forward.
Regarding his controversial statement to a journalist after the last game, Enrique said that he was not quite sure what the journalist had said after the game and that he was not in the habit of verifying that. He believes that when there is a loss, the main responsibility lies with him and he accepts that. He always tries to protect his team and his players and does not try to control things that are beyond his control.
Speaking about Donnarumma's problems with overhead kicks, Enrique said that the issue had been discussed for years before he came to Paris. He believes that Donnarumma did not make a mistake during the opponent's goal and that the team should have addressed the defense before the ball reached him. He emphasized that the mistakes of one player on the field were not the only reason for the loss, and that if there was one person to blame, it was him.
Responding to the question about Paris Saint-Germain's midfield having difficulties against strong teams, Enrique said that he doesn't see it that way. He believes that the opponents are better in certain moments of the game and that Paris Saint-Germain has the ability to get into the game and cause trouble. He believes that the team will fight in all the matches, even if the opponents are better than them.
Commenting on whether Paris Saint-Germain is still moving away from being among the best teams in Europe, Enrique said that on the contrary, he believes that Paris Saint-Germain is very close to being among the best teams in Europe, if not almost at the same level. He emphasized that the team is only one year and three months old and is still in its infancy, but has already shown great competitiveness.
Finally, Enrique said that the match against Nice will be very difficult because the opponent shows a very clear personality on the field and will apply strong pressure. He expects the team to be able to cope with this challenge and expects the team to improve and achieve better results in the Champions League.
