Another very small effort… PSG is only 90 minutes away from a French championship title, the twelfth in its history, which it will win in the event of a victory against Le Havre, this Saturday evening at the Parc des Princes (9 p.m.), on behalf of the 31st day of Ligue 1. Present at a press conference this Friday, Luis Enrique explained that he hoped to be crowned in front of his supporters. The Spanish coach also returned in detail to the difficult patch that Randal Kolo Muani is going through and announced the imminent signing of Senny Mayulu’s first professional contract.
To start, we saw you at the end of the match against Lorient chatting with Randal Kolo Muani on the pitch. What did you say to him? And did you feel the need to reassure him?
LUIS ENRIQUE. Because I’m the coach! It is important to be by your players’ side when they need it. Randal is a top player, a great transfer, but he is at a moment where he is not 100% confident. He has no luck. But he has an incredible capacity for work. I gave him encouragement to continue. I can only help the players when things are not going well, my job is to make sure that all the players are doing well. I am very happy with Kolo Muani’s performances. I believe he can do better. When he regains his confidence, his performance will be better.
Will possibly obtaining the title have an influence on your composition?
I believe that every match at PSG was an opportunity for the players. You showed me a statistic where it says that I change 5-6 players per match. I will continue in the same way. Why would I change? It’s a difficult match against an opponent who still has objectives. It’s a complicated match because there won’t be any spaces. What changes is that we will officially be champions if we win. Being champion at the Park in front of our supporters‚ it’s a perfect setting to enjoy the match.
Do you think the team can still increase its level?
I believe we arrive in very positive circumstances. I had never thought of such a positive scenario. We are in a splendid moment in every sense. All the players are available, with the exception of Rico and Kimpembe, they all have a chance to play, the club has a lot of ambition. It’s a very attractive end to the season, we continue to fight to achieve our goals.
Ousmane Dembélé has just scored 4 goals in a very short time. How do you explain this trigger?
In football, if you look at very high level strikers, they have good moments. Ousmane is very important in the construction of the game. His relationship with the goal only depends on his calmness in finishing. If he decides to pass instead of kicking, it will be a goal.
You explained in December that your team would be better in February. Why is it ultimately stronger only in April?
In February we were better than at the end of the groups. Everything is positive. Don’t look for the negative side. The team is more mature, this is part of a process started last summer. Its identity, its objectives, a new staff, players, all this is part of our construction period. The first season will end and we will see what we succeeded or not. Next year we will be even better, I am convinced. I want to convey an ambition and an idea of the game.
What assessment do you make of Lucas Beraldo’s first months?
I give it a very good rating. He’s such a young player who comes from Brazil, who doesn’t speak the language. But his ability to adapt and his performances were spectacular. He has played little since the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League against Barça, but he had physical problems which prevented him from playing. He’s a very good signing thanks to Luis Campos and a player of the future while I’m here.
What do you like about Senny Mayulu who you started on Wednesday evening?
I have to say that Senny is one of the surprises. When you look at the lower categories, he’s a player with the perfect profile for my playing model. He can play winger, midfielder, he has good physical performance, he doesn’t lose the ball under pressure, he can score. He knows how to play according to others and he is very similar to Warren in this aspect of the game. I am very happy that he continues at the club and that he wants to sign his professional contract at PSG. I think he will be an important player in the future.
Were you surprised by any aspects when you arrived here?
I wasn’t surprised. I saw the level of what was going to surround me. From day one, I was given the confidence to work on the same line. Everything was easy. It’s a very big club and our goal is to continue to improve.
