The 21st day of the French championship offers a summit, the most anticipated match of the year. It’s a clasico, a PSG-OM which pits the first against the third at the start of this stage.
Deprived of Achraf Hakimi, suspended, and Fabian Ruiz, injured in the knee, but recovering Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, injured in the ankle against Newcastle in the Champions League, the capital club intends to keep the lead in Ligue 1. It has never beaten Marseille this season in regulation time between a defeat (1-0) at the Vélodrome in L1 and a draw in Kuwait on January 8 during the Champions Trophy (2-2) before the victory in shots on goal. This Saturday, on the eve of this crucial meeting, Luis Enrique, the Paris coach, was at a press conference from Poissy.
Why does Marseille succeed in its matches against Paris ?
LUIS HENRY. What we can judge is that OM has a very good team, with top individual qualities, with a very good coach. They play attack, I like. It will be difficult. We have the capacity to improve. We know the importance of this different, special match. It’s a vital match.
You talk about improvements. Is PSG what you want it to be?
It’s impossible to be what I want! We had different circumstances. We did the job well. We are first in the championship and the Champions League begins (return play-offs against Monaco on February 17 and 25). We must be more precise, more efficient. Every team wants that.
Do you fear an interruption of the match because of the chants at the Parc des Princes?
Every time we play this type of match, the atmosphere is different. It’s a football atmosphere. At the Park, the atmosphere is incredible. I don’t want violence of any kind. We will play a very good offensive match. I want to say: enjoy the match, the way PSG plays, attacking football. This is what I would like to see.
“It will be open, very difficult”
Ousmane Dembélé is on alternating current. How do you explain it?
Whenever Ousmane is at 100%, he is very consistent. But there have been injuries this season. We handled this subject well. We didn’t take any risks. But there is the schedule, the fatigue. But when he starts, he is good, a different player. We are happy to be able to take advantage of him.
What are the qualities of Matvey Safonov?
To take stock, it’s better to wait until the end of the season. I am very happy with my three goalkeepers. I have confidence with them, they are different but they showed that they were ready.
What did you remember from the two matches of the season against OM ?
They played a lot more in the second game. In Marseille, they played longer. They are looking for similar things to us. It will be open, very difficult.
“I’m happy but I would like more”
How does Dro Fernandez fit in?
I don’t know who is going to play. I know it but I don’t want to say it. Dro has a lot of qualities, qualities different from our other environments. We signed Dro for five years, not for one match or two weeks. For young people, the maturity time is different. I am very happy with his mentality. There is no rush.
Achraf Hakimi is suspended. How will he work?
The first thing he needs to do is rest. He obtained a brilliant result at the CAN (finalists). He played a lot after injury. He needs to free his head, rediscover the love of playing football. He will be a decisive player for us.
Are you going to give him a vacation?
I speak with him every day. When you come back from injury, you play with pain. At CAN, with us. He plays with pain like all professional players. It’s normal, it’s life. This is not a health problem.
What is Ibrahim Mbaye’s real position?
Young people are very happy to work with staff like ours because we give them confidence. We are very demanding with them. I want more from young people. He can play anywhere, even in the middle. That’s what I like about players. I’m happy but I would like more.
