It was a Luis Enrique who was less radiant than before Barcelona/PSG who presented himself at a press conference. Rather on the defensive and tackling the journalists from the start, he answered a good number of questions but mainly talked about the context of the match, not much about the game in the end. Here are his full remarks, translated by us.
You have often wanted to relieve the pressure since your arrival at PSG. Given the results of the two matches against Dortmund during the group stage (2-0, 1-1), would any result other than qualification be seen as a disappointment?
“I believe that, for the four teams who are in the semi-finals, any result other than qualification for the final would be a disappointment. For all four teams. Without a doubt. It’s no different for us. »
All the press makes PSG a huge favorite in this semi-final. Is this an advantage?
“(Laughing) You see, it’s proof that the press knows almost nothing about football (smile). I’m sorry (with a smile and in French). This has been my argument for a long time. I don’t care. The beautiful thing is to enjoy a special match, in a unique atmosphere in Europe, and to have the opportunity to offer great joy to our supporters by qualifying for the final. This is what we have gained in previous matches and we must take advantage of it. »
Barcelona-PSG and Dortmund-Atlético de Madrid gave rise to wild and very open matches. Can being on the verge of the final lead to more closed duels?
“Neither Dortmund nor PSG will change the way they play”
“(He tells his translator that he understood the question asked in French) I think it’s going to be quite similar to the quarter-finals. Neither Dortmund nor PSG will change the way they play. It’s not in our playbook to speculate. Dortmund is the same. We will try to win this match with our football. I think it will be spectacular, and fun to follow for supporters and football fans by extension. There will be goals, given the ability of both teams to create chances. »
You have been a coach for more than twelve seasons. Personally, is this one of the most exciting periods of your career?
“We felt everyone’s support from the moment we arrived. I believe we are always in a process of improvement. We are at the start of the project. We improved our performances throughout the season. There is one month of competition left and we are still in the running to win everything. The Champions League is the most exciting of all, that’s for sure. The four teams still competing can go to the final. We will have to manage our emotions, not be overtaken by pressure, and be ambitious. Pressure should not be seen as a threat. I would say we are living in almost perfect times. »
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In December, right here, you told us that your team would be better in February 2024. How has your team progressed the most?
“I told you here in Dortmund, do you remember? (Smile) In all aspects. Only two players cannot be with us for this match: Sergio (Rico) and (Presnel) Kimpembe. We are better defensively, in attack. But we can still improve, without a doubt. This is our way of managing a team: by being demanding. We were able to overcome moments where we were led or outnumbered, but we knew how to show character. The line that separates victory from defeat in this type of competition is very fine and narrows from year to year (he mimes it). I’m sure every detail will matter in this confrontation. »
You will evolve under the “Yellow Wall” of Signal Iduna Park tomorrow (Wednesday) evening. How do you prepare your players for the pressure of this stadium?
“During the season you face different scenarios. When you play in such a stadium, you have to take advantage of it. Today’s training session should make you aware of where you are and the football player you are and what you will experience tomorrow. We must accept all the characteristics linked to victories and defeats. We continue our improvement process and I believe we are ready to play two big matches, both home and away, and win both. This is our goal. »
There is one area in which your team remains struggling, the air domain. How to remedy this against a dominant team? Is it in particular by forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma to force his nature and go further from his goal?
“If we manage to give a crazy speed to deprive Dortmund of the ball, we will put them in difficulty”
“It’s obvious that all teams have their weaknesses. But, I still think my team is the best. We have weaknesses that we are trying to correct. We are not perfect. We have lost matches this season. But our goal is to play the kind of matches where we are the best. It happens through this small round object that wanders around on the ground. If we manage to create a frenzied speed to deprive Dortmund of the ball, we will put them in difficulty. It’s the same objective for every match. »
Do you think that the stunning victory obtained in Barcelona (4-1) in the quarter-finals took a weight off PSG?
“I hope it’s a liberation. We did something that had never been done (for the club), by qualifying after losing the first leg at home. But I have the experience to know that we have to be competitive again tomorrow (Wednesday), and that what happened, especially during the group stage, is not of much use. During this group stage we were unable to win away, and we won at Barcelona and San Sebastian (in the 8th, 2-1). History may or may not repeat itself. We must not speculate and win tomorrow. Our objective is not to think that there is a return match at the Parc des Princes. Our goal is to be courageous. A quality that my team has had since day one. »
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You coach one of the youngest teams in the Champions League. Is it a source of pride? Does this entail special management of this type of meeting?
“I never made an eleven, neither in the Champions League nor in the World Cup, thinking about the age of the players”
” It’s funny. If we lose, it’s because they’re young, and if we win, it’s because we’re lucky or something else. Age is not important. This is seen in all disciplines. Look at cycling: there are younger and younger cyclists. Young people are super ready despite the criticism we hear. I never made an eleven, neither in the Champions League nor in the World Cup (when he was Spain coach) thinking about the age of the players. I think about their maturity and the way they train and play. If they have the level, whether they are 55 or 16 is not important. Whether we win with young players or experienced players, it doesn’t matter. This statistic is a good thing for the future of this team. To be at this stage of the competition with the youngest squad is good. »
Are you impressed by Vitinha’s importance in your team? Would you like him to be even more impactful offensively, given his shooting quality?
“I sincerely believe that Viti is having an incredible season. He is up to par with the best midfielders in the world this season. He is able to play in all positions, winger, inside, number 6. It’s something that we value enormously. He is capable of scoring, indeed. But he has improved in one aspect where I think I have a responsibility: his defensive level. He is very good at following his opponent without leaving his post. He is one of the best players on the squad this season, without a doubt. »
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You’ve already said that you don’t understand the pressure that follows PSG, a club that has never won the Champions League. How much pressure is there for this match?
“That’s the pressure everyone wants to put on. We are delighted to be there. I am delighted by such pressure. But if you are not able to manage it as a player, a member of the technical or medical staff or manager… I experienced that in big clubs for many years. Everyone experiences this in their own way. I bless this pressure. If we could play a Champions League semi-final every year, I would be delighted. It would be very positive for PSG and for me, as a coach. »
2024-04-30 21:17:00
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