PSG’s Luis Enrique on coaching from the stands: ‘I have a better view of the game from up there.’ | OneFootball

With an injury-hit Paris Saint-Germain team kicking off their Champions League campaign with a convincing win over Atalanta, the reigning champions have successfully carried over their title-winning form into the new season.

In his post-match press conference, Luis Enrique insisted that the objective against La Dea on Wednesday night was nevertheless not to send a message to the rest of Europe:

“It wasn’t our intention. We just wanted to get off to a good start in this competition, against a team that defends well. We played very well against a team that defends man-to-man, and I think we deserved the win. There are still things to improve, but I liked the mentality and the intensity that we showed. We created a lot of chances and beat a high pressing line.”

The Asturian once again spent the first half analysing the match from up in the stands, before returning to the dugout after half-time:

“I watched the first half from the stands because I have a better view of the game from up there. I saw the team go around Atalanta’s press brilliantly. It’s easier to analyse the opposition’s identity and pressing patterns from up there. I won’t do it away from home, though, for the sake of my safety!”

When asked whether Les Parisiens could aim for a top-eight finish this season, which would see the team skip the play-off stages in February, the Spaniard was sought to temper expectations:

“We don’t really have an objective, because, as you know, our schedule is very different to the others. It’ll be very difficult to get five wins and a draw, seeing as we have the hardest schedule in the competition.”

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin – reporting from the Parc des Princes