Zaïre-Emery speaks out: Luis Enrique and his France role

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·14. Juni 2026

Zaïre-Emery speaks out: Luis Enrique and his France role

Warren Zaïre-Emery, the 20-year-old Paris Saint-Germain and France midfielder, spoke at a press conference this Sunday. In comments reported by L’Equipe and Le Parisien, he opened up about coach Luis Enrique’s words about his role as a substitute in the Champions League final against Arsenal. The Paris academy product also spoke about the role that seems to be taking shape for him with the France national team and the position he could play.

Zaïre-Emery: “It’s the coach’s decision, you can’t hold it against him.”

Luis Enrique’s words after the final against Arsenal? It made me very happy. It’s the coach’s decision, you can’t hold it against him. The most important thing is that we won this Champions League.

Zaïre-Emery: “If you want to put me in goal, as long as I’m playing, I’m happy.”

Midfielder or right-back? “When you have the ability to play in several positions, it’s always better for the coach, for the team. No matter the position, I like it, I enjoy it in every training session, in every match. The coach put me at left-back in the last training session. He came to see me and asked whether it bothered me. I told him: Honestly, no problem at all—if you want to put me in goal, as long as I’m playing, I’m happy.

Zaïre-Emery: “Above all, it’s a privilege and a pleasure to be here.”

Being a substitute with France? I try to handle it in the best way possible. I’m a very humble person, I give the best version of myself with the desire to push my teammates, so they can be even better and give even more. It’s always frustrating not to play. Every player hopes to get minutes, but the competition is very strong with some very good midfielders. I’m gaining experience; above all, it’s a privilege and a pleasure to be here.” Doué or Barcola against Senegal? “That will be up to the coach to decide. I sit between the two of them at the table, the competition is healthy (laughs).”

As is often the case, Zaïre-Emery speaks with great simplicity, never forgetting his pure love for football and the importance of the team. A superb mentality, one that is precious in football. Still, a slight touch of frustration would not be hard to understand, even if now is really not the time to express it.

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The focus has to be on the World Cup, without forgetting that the midfielder is still very young. We have already become quite used to seeing him at the highest level, and he has proved that he deserves his place, but he also still has, logically, room for improvement. And time to establish himself even more, both at PSG and with the France national team.

As for Les Bleus, that could come over the course of the World Cup. Head coach Didier Deschamps still seems to be searching for the best possible formula with his squad, and adjustments are also possible depending on the opponent. There is also Zaïre-Emery’s versatility, which gives him more options, always with the same optimism and determination.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.