Luis Enrique has only been there for seven months but he will have to learn that in Paris, many people carry around promises like a burden. Before him, Christophe Galtier and Mauricio Pochettino had, for example, made the commitment to lead a team that would develop great play. Without ever succeeding.
Luis Enrique also kept promises. In his first press conference, the Spanish technician highlighted a “non-negotiable offensive identity” and gave the guarantee that his PSG “will play as a team”. A few months later, the results are there, the identity is defined, but the manner and control leave something to be desired. In December, at the end of a laborious group stage in the Champions League and a sluggish qualification, the Parisian coach provided an initial assessment looking ahead to the future, giving an appointment in February.
“What makes me optimistic is that there were eleven signings this summer, a new staff, a new campus, everything is new. I have no doubt that in February we will be much stronger,” Luis Enrique said after the draw in Dortmund (1-1). For PSG, February began on Friday evening in the cool of Strasbourg and it is still difficult to say that this team is much stronger than two months ago.
Of course, Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé and Achraf Hakimi were missing but on the Meinau pitch, the French champion was badly beaten. Clinically, he ended up winning while conceding 20 shots including 8 on target and numerous hot situations (compared to 9 shots for PSG). Luis Enrique saw nothing alarming, showing himself to be rather satisfied with his team’s victory.
At the edge of the pitch, the Spanish technician got annoyed several times, putting his players back in total lack of control at the height of Strasbourg’s domination in the second half. Actions which contrast with these words at the end of the meeting. “If we analyze the match from the start, it’s a good match, against a strong rival, with good momentum, especially at home. We had a very positive mentality when we had to know how to defend, we did it. Our objective is also to control matches and know how to defend. » Some of his players, and this is not the first time this season, make a somewhat different observation.
“It’s very important to better manage our end of matches”
Manuel Ugarte, replaced as a precaution by Vitinha for a blow to the knee (54th), spoke to him about “a very complicated match”, “far from being the best” of this PSG which is definitely struggling to show character in hot times.
“The second period started well, but I’m not happy with how the team finished,” added Gianluigi Donnarumma, author of several important saves, at Amazon’s microphone. The end of the match was very hard for us. We will continue to work, it is very important to better manage our end of the match. We’re going to improve that. We are a very strong team. We will work to improve and become a top-level team. »
A top team is precisely what PSG is not yet today. 11 days before a Champions League round of 16 first leg against Real Sociedad, at the Parc des Princes, Paris still has work to do and two matches, against Brest and Lille. Meetings which will allow us to know a little more about the real state of the troops. “In twelve days, we may all be dead,” quips Enrique, who was questioned about his December promise and the progress of his team. Here again, he laughs: “In March, it will be less good, in April it will be better, in May less good and better in June. The objective is to arrive on June 1st, being able to win all the titles. » On this February 3, it is very difficult to project ourselves so far ahead.
