Paris did the job this Saturday evening in Metz. By winning on the lawn of the bottom of the class, PSG has, at least occasionally, taken back control of the championship. But Luis Enrique nevertheless agreed that the game was not easy for his troops, especially in a second period where his players lost control of the match.
Do you consider that Paris was scared this evening in Metz?
LUIS HENRY. Fear ? Very scared, even. Metz played very well, especially in the second period. They pressed until the last minute. When you put four or five attackers together and you have to make changes out of necessity, you lack midfield in the game and it becomes difficult. We lost balance and control of the match in the second part of the second half.
Quentin Ndjantou scored his first goal in Ligue 1. What do you think of his development?
Quentin was the surprise of the season, he has the qualities to make deep calls, with and without the ball. He is a player who starts from the second line, he is interesting as a midfielder but also as an attacker.
Was Ibrahim Mbaye galvanized by his selection for the CAN with Senegal?
When you give players so many opportunities, it’s because you believe in them. Today he showed a little more than he usually shows. He was more liberated, felt more comfortable and did good actions, both with and without the ball. I’m very happy, there is still one match for him before he leaves for the CAN. And when he returns, we are ready to give him continuity in playing time.
How does Désiré Doué, who you brought on during the break, feel?
GOOD. I’m very happy, he scored a goal. We continue in our return process. There is a difference between recovering from an injury and being 100%. He has not yet regained his full physical condition, but today he took a step forward. It’s the last championship match in 2025, we’re happy for the supporters.
Were you surprised by the performance of Metz, last in the ranking?
I think we controlled the match at the start. Every time we scored or had the opportunity to do so, they scored. It was difficult because we lost control in the last part of the match.
How did you find Warren Zaire Emery, who is still moving on to a position that is not his ?
Very positive, he showed all his ability to play in different positions. At the moment, in the absence of Hakimi, we need a player with these technical and physical abilities. He continues to have good matches, he is very balanced, I am very satisfied with his performance. It’s a real pleasure to have a player like Zaire-Emery.
What inspires you to challenge Flamengo on Wednesday in the Intercontinental Cup?
We know all their qualities, since we saw them play this summer at the Club World Cup. It will be very difficult, they play very good football, have experience. The last time I was in this match there were a lot of differences. There, it will be different, we will play one of the best teams in the world. It will be difficult, but it is motivation, because it is an opportunity for PSG.
