A final effort to validate its place in the top 8. Sixth in the standings, PSG hosts Newcastle, which has the same number of points, this Wednesday evening (9 p.m.) in the Champions League. Ousmane Dembélé’s partners are aiming for a victory to secure their ticket for the round of 16 of the competition. While they remain with a draw in Bilbao and a defeat against Sporting (1-2), the European champions want to restart the machine on the lawn of the Park. Present at a press conference, Luis Enrique did not say he was obsessed with direct qualification and believes that the real Champions League will begin later in the season.
Does your team need confidence or pressure before this match?
LUIS HENRY. I spoke about the lack of confidence in the match at Auxerre. We arrive in this competition that we love, it is very positive and beautiful for us to be there. Today’s session was of a very good level. I’m happy to be here to prepare for this match. It’s an important competition for us and our supporters.
You said, before the match in Lisbon, that it was not necessarily good news to qualify directly in the top 8. Do you still share this opinion?
I think the same thing. It’s clear that the objective is to qualify directly and win the match against a very good team with a different style, a courageous team, very strong physically. We know this team because we already faced them a few years ago. It will be very difficult. It’s a key moment of the season but it will be even more key when we play for our future in the Champions League. Our goal is to win and we are ready to face this match.
What lessons did you learn from the matches against Newcastle?
These matches are from two seasons ago. I don’t remember anything except the results! The negative result is very important because you can analyze what the team did, the mistakes. No team wins all its matches. This is the part of the path you have to accept. We have to prepare for this match by being 100%. We arrive at a very good time, we find players and we need to have the whole team together.
In what state of mind do you find Achraf Hakimi?
He did the last three practices. Each player has a special story when he reunites with the team. Tomorrow, we will see but I think he will be one of the players who will play.
“We are still open to the transfer window if there is an opportunity”
What do you expect from Dro Fernandez?
We like to sign young players. We like quality players, it’s not easy to find them to improve the squad. Dro can be an important player in the future. It’s time to give confidence. It’s important to be open to the transfer window and we are still open if there is an opportunity.
How will you manage Warren Zaire-Emery with Hakimi’s return to competition?
You always asked me to sign a right back! But I have experience. I don’t let myself be influenced, even if I’m wrong. We have a very high level full-back with Warren who is very special, different. As a coach it’s very good to have a player of this level. He can play anywhere! It’s very positive for him and for me as a coach.
A question about your management, your daily work as a coach: do you sometimes have doubts? On game or player choices?
I am sure of myself, but I am afraid of many things, I have doubts, like everyone else. There is no Superman. I’m very happy to have them in all positions. Recovering players means that I have to make important decisions tomorrow. There will be replacements who deserve to start, it’s unfair but I’m very happy to have this doubt.
“The Champions League is the best medicine”
Will Nuno Mendes and Fabian Ruiz, who were not there at Auxerre, be available?
I hope. We did the last training and everyone is almost perfect. When you play the Champions League, everyone recovers! Everyone is ready! It is the best medicine. This is normal because it is a very motivating competition. It’s good to have that feeling and feeling.
Will the management of set pieces be crucial?
There will be different clear phases of play, such as set pieces. When you play against a team as physical and as strong as Newcastle, you have to look to control the game, especially in the latter part of the match. I hope the last part of the match won’t be crazy. But that will be a different situation to deal with.
Which match would you like to draw inspiration from to reproduce the same performance this season in the Champions League?
If we win tomorrow, we could be 6th or 7th. But I would sign for a defeat or a draw to be in the top fifteen and win the Champions League. The real Champions League begins in the elimination phase. In the elimination phase, we are an incredible team and we will prove it once again.
