PSG v Monaco: Luis Enrique on Kvaratskhelia, Barcola, mentality | OneFootball

Wednesday, during the second leg of the 2025-2026 Champions League playoffs (2-3 in the first leg), Paris Saint-Germain will face AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes (kick-off at 9pm, broadcast on Canal+). On the eve of this match, Paris coach Luis Enrique answered several questions at a press conference.

Luis Enrique: “We want to continue our progress and our journey in the Champions League.”

Are you confident before the return leg?

What I can say is that the supporters are attentive. Confident, of course, but attentive. It’s a special, difficult match. One team starts out eliminated and one will be at the end. You have to know how to manage the moments in the match. It will be tough against Monaco. We want to continue our progress and our journey in the Champions League.

What do you like most about Kvaratskhelia?

We know him perfectly well, he is a very good player. He’s a different kind of player, with the ability to score, to dribble, to defend… It’s tough to be a PSG attacker, he is different and we are very happy to have him.

Luis Enrique: “It’s not easy to play against PSG.”

Do you want your team to defend better?

We are one of the best defenses. There are matches where the opponent has scored with very low expected goals. The team can still improve defensively, but I’m happy with what I’ve seen, with the way we press, the way we all defend together. It’s not easy to play against PSG. We have possession and our own way of defending.

Hakimi on trial for rape? Does that change anything? Is he still vice-captain?

That’s in the hands of the justice system.

Luis Enrique: “It’s not just him who is criticized, it’s everyone.”

Barcola is starting more often this season? But he faces a lot of criticism about his finishing?

I’d like to add that it’s not just him who is criticized, it’s everyone. That’s normal, when you play here you have to get used to it. The attackers are very good players, with a lot of personality. Criticized, because that’s how it works at big clubs. Bradley has shown his character. He can still improve technically. I’m very happy with all the attackers in the team.

The weekend at Lens, is it the most important of the season? Would it be a failure to be eliminated?

We’re in a different competition. One team will be eliminated. It’s a challenge. Monaco starts with a one-goal deficit. After that, you have to be aware of the difficulties. We know our supporters are aware of the difficulties. You have to know how to manage the tough moments. The best way to play is as usual, having the ball, pressing. There’s no result to defend, there’s a match to win.

Luis Enrique: “We are ready to fight in every match, against every opponent and in every situation.”

Is PSG’s mentality ideal for moving forward?

What we’ve shown throughout the season is the ability to handle difficulties. Like with injured players. The team continues to play in the best way. We’ve had the toughest draw in the Champions League and the team has shown the ability to handle it. We have resilience. It’s important to know that we are ready to fight in every match, against every opponent and in every situation.

Any return dates for Dembélé and Ruiz? Maybe tomorrow?

No! If a player doesn’t take part in the session the day before the match, it’s not possible for him to be there. I don’t know how long it will be. We don’t want to take any risks. It’s nothing serious, but we have to know how to wait.

Luis Enrique: “To be compared to those teams, you have to win a lot of trophies.”

A change in the penalty taker hierarchy?

There may not be a player who scores 10 penalties in a row, but we have a lot of players who can take them. There’s Vitinha, Dembélé, Neves, Vitinha, Nuno, Hakimi, Lee… It’s a bit like our ability to find goal scorers. Maybe none can score 30 goals, but many can score 12-15 goals. That’s very positive.

PSG under Luis Enrique at the level of the greatest teams in history, is that the ambition?

It’s nice to hear that, but we’re aware that we’re at the beginning of the journey. To be compared to those teams, you have to win a lot of trophies.

Luis Enrique: “The objective is to win and to deserve it.”

What lessons were learned from the first leg?

Normally, when you lose 2-0 away with chances, it ends in disaster. But we’ve shown again that we know how to overcome difficulties. Even if I’d prefer not to be in that situation again. We’re always looking to improve. The best thing for tomorrow is to approach the match as if it were the first. The objective is to win and to deserve it.

What have you changed recently, mentality or technique, for effectiveness?

Nothing has changed. The ball is the key, always. We look for players who can play with the ball, even if they’re small. After that, you have to know how to press when you lose the ball, be physically strong. When we have possession and create chances but don’t score, you have to know that’s football.

Even though we want to improve. I’m very happy to see my team create a lot of chances. And you have to accept the result. What we’re trying to do is be superior to the opponent. I’m very happy.

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