A successful first. Paris beat Dortmund (2-0) for its entry into the Champions League, this Tuesday at the Parc des Princes. Despite a messy offensive game, Luis Enrique’s team was able to be patient, dominate the heart of the game and defend well when the Germans tried to come back to score. At a press conference after the match, the Spanish coach gave his satisfaction of the evening.
What did you like the most?
LUIS ENRIQUE. Almost everything. The intensity, the speed, the control of the match for 75 minutes. This match reinforces our ideas. We are all happy.
What did you emphasize in the chat before the match?
Make our match. Have the ball, press high. Dortmund are very physical and could not attack.
How do you judge Achraf Hakimi’s start to the season?
He’s a really great player. It gives a unique energy. He has things to improve, we will help him in this area. It’s a pleasure to watch him develop, he appears in all the important areas, like the wing and midfield. He has all the characteristics, he has the calmness to score and he scored an extraordinary goal.
Kolo Muani appeared in difficulty. Do you share this observation and does this overall copy come close to what you are looking for with your team?
In trouble ? I didn’t see that at any time. He has just arrived, just after the international break. We had it for a few days. We gave him a lot of information. In Bradley (Barcola) too. As for the rest, we must assume when we win and when we lose. Against Nice, it was also my team.
“Dembélé is a wonderful player”
What do you think of the first steps of Ousmane Dembélé who is slow to score at PSG?
If I were a fan of any team, I would pay to see Ousmane Dembélé play. He has different qualities, he can miss three times but he has magic. He may want to score his first goal but it’s a normal process. He’s a wonderful player.
Is Mbappé a candidate for the Ballon d’Or this season?
For me, he is without a doubt the best player in the world. What surprises me the most is not his technical qualities but his human quality: he has a positive mentality, always smiling, it’s very positive for the team.
What do you ask Manuel Ugarte in ball exits?
We had doubts about his tenure. He had received a blow against Nice. He is very tough, strong, he always wants to play. He played a very complete match. He brings us something unique, he reads the game very well offensively. With Vitinha, we have a lot of balance.
Is finishing the major project?
We had a few chances that we should have scored. For me, the aspect to improve is the last fifteen minutes to maintain concentration. It’s an almost perfect evening for me.
